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Carolina Panthers: Tre Boston Is a sensible depth signing for secondary

By Danny Jaillet

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Tre Boston #33 of the Carolina Panthers defends a pass to Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Tre Boston #33 of the Carolina Panthers defends a pass to Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The Carolina Panthers brought back an old friend late Tuesday night.

The Carolina Panthers are welcoming back an old friend. Safety Tre Boston and the team have agreed to a one-year $3 million contract. This was first reported by Ian Rappaport of NFL Network.

Boston is very familiar with the Carolina Panthers. He was drafted by the team in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons with the team. Following being waived by the team in 2017, Boston bounced around the league a bit, playing with the Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals.

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He has been dependable in the last two seasons. He started 28 of 30 games played and totaled 158 tackles and eight interceptions.

Boston also has ties to the area as many know. He was a member of the North Carolina Tar Heels and played very well there. His best year came in 2013. That season as a senior, he recorded 49 tackles and five interceptions. For his career at North Carolina, he played in 170 games and recorded 282 tackles, 12 pass deflections, and 13 interceptions.

This is an intriguing move because the Carolina Panthers already have two safeties in Eric Reid and Rashaan Gaulden. To me, the Panthers made this move in case Gaulden does not pan out. That’s something that could very much happen. As a second-year player, he is slated to have a big role in the secondary. This could be too much for him, or he could just be too raw in his skillset. He did not receive much playing time at all last season, so to ask him to have a big year is certainly putting a lot of pressure on him.

Gaulden should definitely be up for the challenge, and I have faith that he could succeed if given the proper chance. However, signing Boston was certainly a smart move in case things don’t pan out. Boston has experience not only in terms of being a veteran, but also playing for the Carolina Panthers. He knows Ron Rivera, and he also knows this coaching staff pretty well. It certainly does not hurt to have depth at the position.

This was a low-risk, potentially high-reward move for the Carolina Panthers. There is still a need for depth no matter how many bodies the Panthers have at the position. Reid will certainly be able to hold down the fort, but it would be tough to ask him to man the position entirely. Gaulden certainly has a ton of potential, but there is just too much unknown with him. Boston at least adds some additional stability to the position.

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