Carolina Panthers will need Tre Boston’s clutch gene in 2020

Carolina Panthers safety Tre Boston received recognition for his ability to perform in clutch situations.

The Carolina Panthers are expecting quality production from Tre Boston in 2020. The safety played well during his first season despite the defense going through some real struggles.

Boston found himself in rare company in the sense he was given a contract extension by the Carolina Panthers. The former fourth-round pick out of North Carolina agreed to terms on a three-year, $18 million deal that included an $8 million signing bonus and a further $8 million guaranteed.

This was a strong outline of faith from the Panthers, who decimated their roster of other veteran presence during their first year of rebuilding under new head coach Matt Rhule. Expectations will grow once again next term for Boston, who ended 2019 with 53 solo tackles, three interceptions, and 11 pass deflections.

His production during the first year of his second spell in Carolina was also recognized by Pro Football Focus, who picked Boston in their All-Clutch team of 2019.

PFF writer Ben Linsey picked out the NFL’s best players in the fourth quarter and overtime last season. And Boston was included alongside Indianapolis Colts safety Malik Hooker.

Speaking on his selections, Linsey had this to say.

"“The job of a free safety can be without glamour and hard to judge at times. If they’re doing their job well, the ball isn’t going to come their way all that often, leaving them with fewer opportunities to make the splash plays on the ball that bring the recognition. Both Hooker and Boston did excellent jobs of both limiting throws into their coverage and making plays on the ball when passes did come their way. Boston was targeted as the primary coverage defender just once in this sample, but he came away with one forced incompletion and one interception anyway. Likewise, Hooker was targeted only four times with two interceptions to his name. It’s hard to get much better than that.”"

This is tremendous recognition for Boston, who has made the most out of another opportunity with the Panthers. His time away from the organization came with mixed fortunes. And it’s clear that being in familiar surroundings has reinvigorated the player.

Can Tre Boston help improve the Carolina Panthers in 2020?

Even though Tre Boston gave a very good account of himself with the Carolina Panthers last season. There will be an even sterner test awaiting the player this time around.

The Panthers have undergone significant changes to their roster. And this is especially prevalent on the back end. Boston will be tasked with guiding NFL Draft picks Jeremy Chinn and Kenny Robinson through their adjustment, which has the potential to be equally as important as his production on the field.

Carolina did also bring in Juston Burris to potentially further aid during this period. But they invested a lot in the college pair and the onus will be on Boston to ensure Chinn and Robinson do not become overawed at any stage on the field.

Boston has all the traits one looks for. He is strong, possesses tremendous instincts, and has the ability to inspire others around him. The player is going to need all this and more to ensure the Panthers remain competitive on the backend in 2020. But there is nothing to suggest he is not more than capable of becoming one of the most prominent locker room leaders.

His ability to come through in critical situations is also something that could make a massive difference. The Panthers are not predicted to be in many close games given their relative inexperience. So it will be up to the safety to drag them over the line defensively when the opportunity of a rare victory presents itself.