Carolina Panthers should take a chance on Eli Apple in free agency

The Carolina Panthers need to add more depth to their cornerback situation as it’s worth taking a chance on Eli Apple in free agency.

With the 2020 NFL Draft just a few weeks away, it’s clear that the Carolina Panthers have a lot of areas of need on the defensive side of the ball. At this point in time, the Panthers need to add better talent at defensive line, linebacker, and cornerback.

For a few years now, the defensive secondary of the Panthers has left much to the imagination. They’ve been getting torched by opposing offenses that aren’t afraid to take shots downfield to much success. As the Panthers finalize their draft board, it would make a ton of sense for them to add a few cornerbacks to the mix but before they’re on the clock, they can make a smart move right now via free agency.

Cornerback Eli Apple is still trying to find a new home as he still has a lot of football left in him. He’s experienced and can be an instant starter for the Panthers while also grooming young players, especially newly drafted ones around him. So far in his career, Apple has totaled 233 tackles, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions.

The Carolina Panthers need to sign cornerback Eli Apple

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General manager Marty Hurney has a lot of work ahead of him in order to rebuild the Panthers to be contenders again in the future. A low-risk, high reward free agent signing of Apple would be worth it in the grand scheme of things. Especially since he’d bring some great inside information about a certain NFC South rival and a quarterback that has ruined many games for the Panthers in the past.

Apple has spent the last two seasons with the New Orleans Saints and has seen a ton of quarterback Drew Brees as that would also be an interesting advantage to have heading into the upcoming season. It’s all about the little advantages and since the Panthers were on the outside looking in last season at the bottom of the division, moves like this will only help further the cause.

If the Panthers can sign Apple to a simple two-year deal and also select a cornerback or two in this year’s draft, they’d have a nice situation going into training camp. They would have an instant starter in Apple and other young cornerbacks to provide depth while being developed for a hopefully brighter future.

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Overall, a free agent signing like this would make sense for the Panthers since they don’t have much to lose. At the very least, Apple and fellow cornerback Donte Jackson would be a nice tandem to see alongside each other.

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