Carolina Panthers, Enough Personnel for a 3-4 Defense?

Secondary

The secondary core should theoretically play better this season than last. With the Panthers deciding to part ways with two of the senior defensive backs (Mike Adams and Captain Munnerlyn), the Panthers would theoretically be looking to only add one additional player at the safety position. With a 3-4 defense, the use of a nickel cornerback would be nonexistent, as one of the linebackers or a safety would cover the slot receiver if needed. The Panthers are seemingly set at cornerback with Donte Jackson and James Bradberry returning as starters. But one name to keep an eye on is Ross Cockrell, the player returning from injured reserve after a terrible leg injury. Cockrell is a physical player who was not only challenging for a starting spot last year, but could still possibly challenge Bradberry to up his game, spell him for a time, or even challenge his position in the depth chart. Additionally, if the team uses multiple fronts, Cockrell could also become a nickelback if needed as well as the young but inexperienced Corn Elder.

The safety position should look drastically different than it did last offseason. With Adams gone and Reid attending his first offseason with the team, the new leader of the backfield has a lot to live up to. Reid is a powerful strong safety who doesn’t mind roaming the backfield or attacking the offense at any given time and wasted no time reminding the NFL and its fans the kind of talent that he possesses. However, after Reid is where the problems arise.

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The Panthers have two possible candidates that could man the position if needed, but neither one offers the peace and safety of improved play. Da’Norris Searcy and Rashaan Gaulden are players at two different points of their careers. Gaulden, a player fresh off a rookie campaign that didn’t see much action and so-so results. After converting from cornerback to safety in college at the University of Tennessee, Gaulden has taken a back road to the veterans before him and could use the information to better himself for a second year. Searcy, is a player with eight years of NFL experience.

A University of North Carolina product, Searcy is another hard hitting player who could be a contributor on a number of NFL teams. Unfortunately the problem with Searcy are concussions. Not only did Searcy suffer two concussions, but the 5’11 strong safety suffered both concussions in a span of 30 days, bringing the question of long-term health into question. Though a good player, Panthers should be reluctant to play a player with multiple concussive issues. As was the case with Michael Oher (who has yet to play another game in the NFL after suffering a severe concussion that robbed him of the entire season), Searcy only played in two games for the Panthers while notching four tackles on the season and could possibly be a player the team looks to cut due to medical reasoning. With that being said, the team could look to add another player capable of providing the security blanket that the team has lacked since Kurt Coleman’s first two years in Carolina.

Possible Safeties: George Iloka (29), Josh Shaw (27) Tre Boston (26), Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (26), Adrian Phillips (26), Landon Collins (25)