Panthers: The Curious Case of Reggie Bonnafon
The Carolina Panthers signed Bonnafon as an undrafted free agent. Where could he find a spot on the roster?
I think it would only be accurate to say that Reggie Bonnafon has secret weapon potential. A former offensive weapon for the University of Louisville, Bonnafon reached an agreement on Saturday to sign with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent. He is a man of many talents, something that was exemplified during his college career.
Playing quarterback, running back and wide receiver during his time at Louisville, he put up numbers at each position. He went 75-for-144 for 1056 yards as a quarterback, while pounding the rock 215 times for 805 yards. As a receiver, he showed flashes of explosiveness. Catching 42 passes for 446 yards, he truly did it all and showed he was willing to help wherever he was needed.
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Now, he brings that versatility to the Carolina Panthers. There is just one major problem for Bonnafon as I see it: Where will he fit on the roster? There is no real pressing need at quarterback at this time, and the running back and wide receiver positions are full for now.
If there is one area where he could be of service to the team, it is as a punt returner. He returned 12 punts for 81 yards as a senior, and he could use his athleticism to his advantage.
I am a little conflicted here. I want him to be able to be a contributing member of the Carolina Panthers in 2018. I just do not know where he would fit. Measuring in at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, he is on the smaller side of the spectrum in terms of the wideout position. That is the only position where I could really see him fitting in. There is no question he is an athletic freak. The only question is how he would fit into the Panthers offensive plans.
On the other hand, he has decent size for a cornerback. Maybe Carolina could use him as a piece for their secondary. He has the size to, at the very least, be an effective slot corner. With the offensive weapons the NFC South has at their disposal, putting him that would not be a bad option. Especially when you look at the rosters of the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, they have those types of wideouts that could present matchup problems. If anything, I think Bonnafon could find his niche at that position.
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Bonnafon is a raw specimen. There is no doubt he has athletic potential. He could make it past training camp. He could be cut during it. If anything, this could be summed up as the Curious Case of Reggie Bonnafon.