Panthers: Complete preseason position grades

Secondary: C

The secondary has been an issue for Carolina over the past few seasons. Undoubtedly the weakest unit on the team, early indications were many of the issues – soft coverage, blown assignments, poor tackling and bad communication – had been remedied.

This may be true for the four projected starters with James Bradberry, Donte Jackson at cornerback and Mike Adams plus Da’Norris Searcy at safety but behind them there are a number of concerns.

Kevon Seymour, the projected starter opposite Bradberry when the preseason began struggled considerably throughout and missed one game entirely. Corn Elder returned after a rookie campaign hampered by injury but hasn’t done enough to make the decision easy for Rivera as Lorenzo Doss and LaDarius Gunter improved.

Health will be a key factor for a secondary appearing to rely again on another rookie corner, at least initially.