These Panthers players need big training camps to avoid being cut from the roster
Each year, we speculate about roster cuts despite entering training camp with enough offseason information to formulate a fairly accurate final 53-man roster before practices even start.
Nailing all 53 picks takes some luck because there is usually a surprise or two.
The Panthers start training camp on Wednesday with 90 players. By Aug. 16, the team must cut from 90 to 85 players. Seven days later, that number drops to 80. A week after that, 27 more players are cut.
Some will re-sign quickly with the practice squad. Others will be picked up by other teams. Training camp is as much the team working out players as it is players trying to prove themselves to the 31 other teams.
Here are position groups with the most competition and the Panthers players at those positions who are in jeopardy of missing the roster.
Wide receiver
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Rashard Higgins. Higgins signed with Carolina this offseason after spending the first six years of his NFL career in Cleveland. He caught 113 passes for 1,615 yards and 11 touchdowns with the Browns. He filled an Odell Beckham Jr.-size hole in Cleveland in 2020, catching 37 passes for a career-high 599 yards and four touchdowns after Beckham tore his ACL in Week 7.
He isn’t the strongest, quickest or most athletic. Instead, the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder relies on sound route running, technique and sure handiness to make plays.
His connection with Baker Mayfield should help Higgins battle for a roster spot. Carolina is searching for a No. 3 receiver. Terrace Marshall Jr. and Higgins should earn plenty of training camp and preseason reps to prove themselves.
Higgins played zero special items snaps last season and only 5% of special teams plays in 2020. That is not where he contributes, which makes his degree of difficulty higher than the other receivers on this list.
Shi Smith. Panthers signed return specialist Andre Roberts this offseason to stabilize their kick and punt return game. Assuming Roberts handles both responsibilities, receiver Shi Smith could become expendable.
It does not help that he is dealing with a pending legal matter after a March arrest for unlawfully carrying a handgun, drug possession and speeding in South Carolina. Smith is still listed on the team roster and participated in the Panthers’ offseason program, including minicamp.
He’s expected to be a full participant at training camp competing with a back-loaded receiving room.
Offensive line
Dennis Daley. Entering his fourth season, Daley has battled injuries throughout his career. A severe ankle injury in 2020 limited him to only five appearances. Last season, he battled a glute injury and a concussion but still appeared in 15 games.
Even when available, Daley hasn’t proven consistent enough. Pro Football Focus ranked him 113th in pass protection among 130 qualified guards.
The team has drafted guards in back-to-back drafts, signaling it may be time to move on from Daley. Cade Mays and Deonte Brown will both challenge Daley for reps.
Coach Matt Rhule did speak highly of Daley during minicamp. Rhule said Daley is a “left-side” player along with Ikem Ekwonu and Brady Christensen.
Monitoring his practice reps and preseason game performance will dictate Daley’s fate.
Deonte Brown. Consider this quote from Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer:
“Ben McAdoo came in this morning talking about the offensive line. ’What’s the lineup gonna be?’ This can be a tough cut. Those eighth and ninth linemen are kind of good players. And a lot of those guys can start play for an offensive line.”
Brown or Daley could be that ninth offensive linemen Fitterer is referring to. Besides quarterback, Carolina gained the most depth across the offensive line this offseason.
By signing guard Austin Corbett, center Bradly Bozeman and drafting tackle Ekwonu, the Panthers’ offensive line could feature three new starters. Which will make players like Daley or Brown difficult to retain.
There is a lot to like about Brown. His natural 6-foot-4, 340-pound body cannot be replicated. But he’s been out of shape before. Learning an NFL offense is challenging and that showed for him last season.
He’s only a second-year player. Cutting Brown would mean the Panthers have a lot of young depth they believe in.
Cornerbacks
Kalon Barnes. Barnes caught evaluators’ attention by gliding through an NFL Combine-best 4.23-second 40-yard dash, the second-fastest time ever behind only former Bengals receiver John Ross’ 4.22 in 2017.
As a senior at Baylor, Barnes recorded 23 tackles, five pass deflections and an interception. His 21 catches allowed were the fewest of any Big 12 cornerback. Despite his blazing speed, Barnes remained undrafted entering the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft until Carolina selected him at No. 242.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule originally recruited Barnes to Baylor and coached him for two years before coming to Carolina. Reunited with his college coach, Barnes has a chance to fulfill his NFL dreams.
Stantley Thomas-Oliver III. Since joining the team in 2020, Thomas-Oliver III has been a special team fixture. He appeared in 66% of special teams reps last season and 44% as a rookie.
But with all the depth Carolina is collecting at corner, his time in Carolina may soon expire.
Barnes can play special teams. Thomas-Oliver III has to prove he can help the team at defensive back, too.
Chris Westry. Carolina signed Westry this spring and he competed during minicamp while Jaycee Horn rested.
At 6-4, Westry is one of the longer cornerbacks in the NFL. This past season, he played in six games and started two for the Baltimore Ravens, racking up 17 tackles, one tackle for loss, and three pass breakups.
Westry is a long shot to make the roster considering all the depth in front of him.
This story was originally published July 27, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "These Panthers players need big training camps to avoid being cut from the roster."
