Panthers secondary in disarray after Breeland failed physical
The Carolina Panthers had reportedly been expected to sign free agent cornerback Bashaud Breeland…
Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney has not been afraid to make moves in regards to personnel since taking over as interim before last season. He immediately signed guard Trai Turner to a long-term deal before trading away former first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin later in the season.
Dealing the Panthers number one wide receiver came as a shock but appeared to open up an offense that had been somewhat stagnant until that point in the year. Hurney’s prior experience with the general manager role is obviously playing a part in his decision making but his latest move raises concerns.
After having the interim title removed from his position, Carolina enters perhaps their most pivotal offseason to date without an owner and facing a significant amount of roster turnover. Already, Hurney has witnessed the departures of starters Jonathan Stewart, Charles Johnson, Andrew Norwell, Kurt Coleman, Star Lotulelei and Daryl Worley.
Worley started at cornerback opposite James Bradberry but was dealt for an upgrade at wide receiver, with an experienced Torrey Smith joining the Panthers. For a secondary already in a rebuilding stage, parting with a veteran captain on the backend and a developing player just two years removed from his rookie season is questionable.
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It initially appeared Hurney had everything under control, planning to sign South Carolina native Bashaud Breeland, a four-year starter with the Washington Redskins. However, a failed physical due to a foot infection suffered after sustaining a cut led the Panthers to withdraw their offer.
Without Breeland, Carolina returns to the drawing board and is now desperately in the market for a starting corner. This is not the position Hurney wishes to find himself with various other free agent corners available, knowing Carolina must have someone who can step in and play immediately.
Suffering through the rookie seasons of both Bradberry and Worley on the outside, Carolina was exploited by each of the veteran quarterbacks they faced. Having to play Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and Jameis Winston twice during the year, it is doubtful Hurney would put another rookie in that situation.
Next: Panthers Free Agent Targets
Down two starters, at safety and cornerback, expect the Panthers to continue making moves – questionable or not – in an effort to strengthen their secondary.