With two preseason games in the books and the all-important third week coming in just a few days, the Carolina Panthers 53-man roster is starting to take shape. The past few roster projections have come with caveats that it is still early and things can change, and while that is still true, there are only a scant few weeks of practice and preseason for the players still fighting for roster spots to move up in the coaches’ minds. Check out this week’s snap counts for a helpful glimpse into the coaches’ mindset heading into Jacksonville. Two weeks from today, 37 of the players on the roster will be out of a job.
One quick caveat: This projection does not take into account any camp casualties from other teams. This is merely an exercise to determine who the Panthers would be keeping if they cut their roster from 90 to 53, but in reality, players like Dezmen Southward, Chris Scott, or even Colin Jones may get cut in favor of a veteran from another team’s roster. As always, if you think I’m way off, let me know in the comments.
Quarterbacks: Cam Newton, Derek Anderson, Joe Webb. The big clamor this week is for Joe Webb to move up to QB2; I don’t see that happening, but either way, all three of these guys are on the roster come September.
Running Backs: Jonathan Stewart, Christian McCaffrey, Cameron Artis-Payne, Fozzy Whittaker, Darrel Young. Well, here’s a big change. Fullback Darrel Young makes the roster for the first time all preseason, not necessarily because of his level of play, but because of the Panthers’ continuing usage of the fullback in the past week of practices and in Nashville. While rookie Alex Armah scored his first NFL touchdown, it was Young who received four carries and was on the field for more than a third of the snaps. Armah is a lock for the practice squad if this trend continues. Fozzy Whittaker makes the team not for his offensive abilities, but his roles on special teams, which could be replaced by other players like Ben Jacobs (who Whittaker made the roster over in this exercise as the final cut) in coverage or Damiere Byrd, who returned two kickoffs in Nashville.
Wide Receivers: Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess, Russell Shepard, Curtis Samuel, Damiere Byrd. If the Panthers decide that they want to keep six wide receivers, Brenton Bersin and Kaelin Clay are neck-and-neck for that spot, and Clay’s special teams play looked good in Tennessee; special teams is where a lot of Bersin’s value lies.
Tight End: Greg Olsen, Ed Dickson, Chris Manhertz. Manhertz was all over the field yesterday, being motioned everywhere from the slot to the backfield. His reaction to all that movement? “Welcome to being a tight end in this offense.”
Offensive Line: Trai Turner, Andrew Norwell, Ryan Kalil, Matt Kalil, Daryl Williams, Amini Silatolu, Chris Scott, Tyler Larsen, Taylor Moton, JJ Jansen. Chris Scott is teetering on the edge of the roster with Dan France biting at his heels. Scott needs to get healthy and quickly, the coaches got a long look at France in Nashville and he could add depth on the outside. With the emergence of Tyler Larsen, Gino Gradkowski falls off the roster in favor of secondary depth.
Andy Lee
Special Teamers: Graham Gano, Andy Lee. Yes, Palardy got both of the punt opportunities in Nashville, but when Lee took a salary cut early in the offseason, he basically assured himself a roster spot. He’d also count over $2 million towards the cap if he were to get cut.
Linebackers: Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, Shaq Thompson, David Mayo, Jeremy Cash, Jared Norris. Interestingly enough, Zeek Bigger took every special teams snap available and Ben Jacobs took a lot of snaps at linebacker. The coaches may be evaluating if Bigger can be a future special teams “ace”, as that was a lot of where Jacobs’ value had expected to be. Jacobs doesn’t make the roster, but was literally the last guy cut. At this point, Bigger seems to have a chance at the practice squad, it will be interesting to see if he can make a play at Jacksonville to move the needle for himself.
Defensive Ends: Julius Peppers, Charles Johnson, Daeshon Hall, Mario Addison, Wes Horton. Terrifying.
Defensive Tackles: Kawann Short, Star Lotulelei, Vernon Butler, Kyle Love. Eric Crume played well in an extended role against the Titans, grabbing a tackle for loss and a couple of hits on the quarterback while getting good push in the middle. Kyle Love needs to get healthy or else risk starting the season on IR. This is a spot where the Panthers may add depth through free agency.
Teddy Williams
Cornerbacks: James Bradberry, Daryl Worley, Captain Munnerlyn, Teddy Williams, Cole Luke. I believe Corn Elder will start the year on the IR/Designated to Return list, but if he makes it back in time for the start of the regular season, he obviously would make the roster and undrafted free agent Cole Luke will be the casualty. The Panthers backup cornerbacks are still a concern, and if they don’t make a signing before San Francisco it would be surprising.
Safeties: Mike Adams, Kurt Coleman, Colin Jones, Dezmen Southward, LJ McCray. Again, if the Panthers don’t make a signing here before the season starts it would be surprising. LJ McCray had some nice special teams play against the Titans, and I think that’s where his value can lie, the coaches love his physicality, I think Jones or Southward might be the victims if the Panthers go with a free agent signing.
Last Guys Cut/Practice Squaders: Zack Sanchez, Zeek Bigger, Alex Armah, Bryan Cox Jr, Kaelin Clay, Brenton Bersin, Eric Crume, Garrett Gilbert, Damian Parms.
Previous Roster Projections:
- Version 1.0 (July 30)
- Version 2.0 (August 7)
- Version 3.0 (August 14)
