Carolina Panthers: Small trade could have big returns
The Carolina Panthers’ trade for Kevon Seymour could pay major dividends against the New England Patriots.
Right before the start of the 2017 season, the Carolina Panthers made a trade with the Buffalo Bills that barely made news. The move that sent Kaelin Clay to the Bills in exchange for Kevon Seymour now is one of the top headlines heading into Week 4.
On Friday, the Panthers ruled out starting cornerback Daryl Worley, who is dealing with a pectoral strain. Head coach Ron Rivera said after practice on Friday, that Seymour will be starting in place of Worley.
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One of the biggest concerns for the Panthers entering this season was depth at the cornerback position. That depth will now be tested with Seymour in the starting lineup. However, Rivera feels confident in Seymour, especially since the cornerback played for former Panthers’ defensive coordinator Sean McDermott in Buffalo this summer.
“What really helps is he was up in Buffalo during the preseason with Sean (McDermott) and those guys. That’s probably made his transition a lot smoother,” Rivera said after Friday’s practice.
Seymour was a sixth round pick by the Bills last year and saw some playing time as a rookie, playing in 15 games and starting three. He finished the season with 22 total tackles and three passes defended.
However, since joining the Panthers the majority of his playing time has come on special teams as he has only taken one snap at cornerback, which happened Week 1.
The Panthers are now in a tough spot as they prepare for the Patriots as they have a player who is still young and his playing time has been limited at cornerback. Seymour will likely be matched up with Chris Hogan, who has been on a tear recently with nine receptions, 146 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Next: Carolina Panthers: Injury report for Week 4
The Panthers knew they needed depth at the cornerback position and were able to swing a trade right at the start of the season with Brandon Beane and the Bills. The coaching staff will not have to wait much longer to see if trading for Seymour was the right move.