Yesterday I wrote a roster projection that I said would only have shelf life for 24 hours. That was proven incorrect six hours later when the Panthers opened their roster transactions by waiving Zack Sanchez, who I thought they would be keeping on the roster because his groin injury was not supposed to be that bad.
Whoops.
While this group of 53 will likely not be the group the Panthers bring to San Francisco, and it probably won’t even be the same group of players by the time you’re done flipping burgers on Labor Day, the Panthers roster is complete. For now. It turns out I got some things wrong in my final projection; for the sake of talking through the current roster, let’s take a look at some of the bad decisions I made.
Quarterbacks
What I said:
Quarterbacks: Cam Newton, Derek Anderson, Joe Webb. No changes. No matter how much the vocal fanbase may want Anderson demoted or even cut, the quarterbacks aren’t changing. Webb is too big of a contributor on special teams to go anywhere.
What the Panthers said:
Quarterbacks: Cam Newton, Derek Anderson. In my defense, no one saw this one coming. Even Marty Hurney called the decision to cut Webb one of the hardest, if not the hardest decision the team had to make. Don’t be surprised to see the Panthers grab a quarterback off waivers to put on the practice squad. The move to let go of Webb, at the very least, indicates the level of confidence the team has in Newton’s surgically repaired shoulder.
UPDATE: The Panthers have claimed Brad Kaaya from the Detroit Lions; interim general manager Marty Hurney said the team wanted to develop a younger quarterback as the third on the roster.
Running Backs
What I said:
Running Backs: Jonathan Stewart, Christian McCaffrey, Cameron Artis-Payne, Fozzy Whittaker. Darrel Young being announced as a starter in last night’s preseason game almost convinced me to add a fullback to the roster, but I just couldn’t do it. If the Panthers did want to keep a fullback, I’d actually lean more towards Alex Armah, as the Panthers may keep him on the roster strictly to keep him from being picked up by another team as the Panthers try to add him to the practice squad. Fozzy Whittaker is the last running back on the roster at this point, as Cameron Artis-Payne has played incredibly well this preseason and Whittaker’s special teams value may be diminishing with CAP playing on coverage and Curtis Samuel flashing in the return game.
What the Panthers said:
Running Backs: Jonathan Stewart, Christian McCaffrey, Fozzy Whittaker, Cameron Artis-Payne, Alex Armah. The Panthers end up keeping a fullback, perhaps for his special teams and pass-catching ability, but more than likely because they didn’t think they could get him through waivers to the practice squad. Armah is talented but raw, and will definitely be a contributor in punt and kick coverage, but I hold strong to my opinion that a lot of the FB snaps will go to Ed Dickson.
Update: The Panthers have waived Alex Armah. And I am SMART.
Wide Receivers
What I said:
Wide Receivers: Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess, Russell Shepard, Curtis Samuel, Damiere Byrd. I wrote this on Monday, and I don’t think it’s changed: If the Panthers decide that they want to keep six wide receivers, Kaelin Clay has most likely taken the lead for the sixth spot (and by default, the practice squad wide receiver spot). However, I think the Panthers will go with five wide receivers as they may consider Christian McCaffrey the sixth on this crew. Clay played very well against the Steelers, but there may not be room for six wide receivers on the roster.
What the Panthers said:
Wide Receivers: Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess, Russell Shepard, Curtis Samuel, Damiere Byrd, Kaelin Clay. The Panthers keep Clay, but only to trade him later in the afternoon for some much needed cornerback depth. This group of five makes complete sense, especially with McCaffrey and Olsen splitting out wide on many snaps.
Tight Ends
Ed Dickson makes a second quarter catch against the Titans.
What I said:
Tight End: Greg Olsen, Ed Dickson, Chris Manhertz. Manhertz got a ton of reps against the Steelers and while he has shown some issues with drops, the lack of a fullback means a third tight end makes sense.
What the Panthers said:
Tight End: Greg Olsen, Ed Dickson, Chris Manhertz. Huzzah!
Offensive Line
Norwell Smash.
What I Said:
Offensive Line: Trai Turner, Andrew Norwell, Ryan Kalil, Matt Kalil, Daryl Williams, Amini Silatolu, Chris Scott, Tyler Larsen, Taylor Moton, JJ Jansen. I’m not sure Chris Scott or Gino Gradkowski are healthy enough to make the roster, so Scott makes it by default as Rivera values versatility on the offensive line and Scott can play both guard and tackle. Don’t be surprised if the ninth offensive lineman is a free agent signing instead of Scott.
What the Panthers said:
Offensive Line: Trai Turner, Andrew Norwell, Ryan Kalil, Matt Kalil, Daryl Williams, Amini Silatolu, Tyler Larsen, Taylor Moton, Greg Van Roten, JJ Jansen. Turns out Chris Scott wasn’t healthy enough to make the roster, so Greg Van Roten takes his spot. I’m not convinced Van Roten is the full season answer, he may be a placeholder while the Panthers search for a replacement on waivers; he is healthy, though, the inside lineman played on every single snap against the Steelers.
Special Teamers
What I said:
Special Teamers: Harrison Butker, Andy Lee. This changed quickly. With Rivera saying earlier this week that the kickers were even heading into the final preseason game and Gano missing his second field goal in the last month, Butker may have gotten the job. Don’t be surprised if the Panthers move on from both and bring in another veteran to vie for the job. Andy Lee has been involved in trade rumors, and both Palardy and Lee will have jobs this season, it’s just a matter of who will be staying in Charlotte. I’m sticking with Lee, but it’s a coin flip.
What the Panthers said:
Special Teamers: Harrison Butker, Graham Gano, Michael Palardy. Obviously, this is not going to be a Rhys Lloyd/John Kasay situation where the Panthers carry two kickers; this appears to be a play to buy some time to work out a trade for one of the two kickers. I said it was a coin flip between the two punters, and I guessed incorrectly. While Lee was a weapon at directional punting, Palardy was an excellent punter between the 20s and performed admirably both last year and during the preseason.
Linebackers
LB Ben Jacobs
What I said:
Linebackers: Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, Shaq Thompson, David Mayo, Jeremy Cash, Ben Jacobs. Unfortunately for Jared Norris, the Panthers don’t need seven linebackers when the top four might be the most talented in the league.
What the Panthers said:
Linebackers: Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, Shaq Thompson, David Mayo, Jeremy Cash, Ben Jacobs, Jared Norris. While the Panthers Jared Norris makes the roster, he may be a casualty when they inevitably bring in a fourth safety; this will be especially true as Norris’ biggest value was on special teams.
Defensive Ends
D Line Squad
What I said:
Defensive Ends: Julius Peppers, Charles Johnson, Daeshon Hall, Mario Addison, Wes Horton, An extremely talented defensive end group can afford to spend a few weeks without Daeshon Hall. If Hall ends up starting the season on IR/Designated to Return, Bryan Cox, Jr would be the guy to take his spot.
What the Panthers said:
Defensive Ends: Julius Peppers, Charles Johnson, Daeshon Hall, Mario Addison, Wes Horton. Nailed it. The Panthers are hoping Bryan Cox, Jr. gets through waivers so they can put him on the practice squad.
What I said:
Defensive Tackles: Kawann Short, Star Lotulelei, Vernon Butler, Kyle Love, Eric Crume. Either Butler or Love may not be healthy enough to start the season; the Panthers may choose to add a defensive tackle in free agency or keep an extra piece in the secondary. Crume, however, has certainly played well enough to make the roster.
What the Panthers said:
Defensive Tackles: Kawann Short, Star Lotulelei, Vernon Butler, Kyle Love. Choosing to keep only these four shows that the Panthers have confidence in either Love or Butler’s ability to be available for Week 1 in San Francisco. If not, they may activate someone like Eric Crume from the practice squad if he clears waivers.
Cornerbacks
CB Cole Luke
What I said:
Cornerbacks: James Bradberry, Daryl Worley, Captain Munnerlyn, Teddy Williams, Zack Sanchez, Cole Luke. Corn Elder heads to IR/Designated to Return or the Panthers gamble that he clears waivers, as he hasn’t practiced since the first day of training camp. If Sanchez’s groin injury is more serious, he’ll get waived and there will be an extra spot on the roster, maybe for someone like Alex Armah or Bryan Cox, Jr.
What the Panthers said:
Cornerbacks: James Bradberry, Daryl Worley, Captain Munnerlyn, Corn Elder, Cole Luke, Kevon Seymour (via trade). I’m still not 100% sure Corn Elder doesn’t start the season on IR; with or without Elder, the Panthers depth at cornerback is both slim and extremely young. Aside from Captain Munnerlyn, there are three seasons of experience collectively amongst the unit. The Panthers may be satisfied rolling with only five cornerbacks until Elder gets healthy after trading for Seymour, who performed well in limited snaps last year.
Update: The Panthers have placed Corn Elder on Injured Reserve.
Safeties
S Colin Jones
What I said:
Safeties: Mike Adams, Kurt Coleman, Colin Jones, Dezmen Southward. Just as I said on Monday, if the Panthers don’t make a signing here before the season starts it would be surprising. While Southward hasn’t played poorly, there will be a more talented safety available in free agency. If the Panthers wanted to be cheeky, they could cut Southward and keep someone like Corn Elder or Kyle Love on the roster who is going to be put on IR.
What the Panthers said:
Safeties: Mike Adams, Kurt Coleman, Colin Jones. Hey, look! I got one!
Update: The Panthers have claimed Demetrius Cox off waivers from the Cincinnati Bengals. Cox, an undrafted free agent, can play both free and strong safety.
Practice Squad: DE Efe Obada, QB Garrett Gilbert, WR Keyarris Garrett, WR Mose Frazier, DT Eric Crume, OL Blaine Clausell, DE Bryan Cox, Jr, DE Zach Moore, S Damian Parms, S Dezmen Southward.
