4 players Carolina Panthers can’t risk sneaking on practice squad

Players the Carolina Panthers can’t risk sneaking on the practice squad: Stantley Thomas-Oliver III (CB)

The Carolina Panthers rounded off a historical all-defense draft by taking Stantley Thomas-Oliver III with their seventh-round selection. The cornerback does appear to be a little rough around the edges. But there are some eye-catching skills he brings to the table.

Cornerback is an area of the roster that has its fair share of uncertainty going into the season. Thomas-Oliver might not have a chance of impacting the rotation during his rookie campaign. But there is plenty to like about his aspirations with more experience under his belt.

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Thomas-Oliver originally started his college career at wide receiver before making the switch to cornerback over the last two years. He rose to the challenge in no uncertain terms. And managed to record 18 pass deflections in 2018 and 2019 at Florida International.

This is a strong foundation from which to build a successful career. And there is every chance that the Panthers could have a steal on their hands if Thomas-Oliver lives up to his ceiling.

However, late-round picks have their work cut out to make a roster spot their own. So it remains to be seen whether the incoming college recruit can buck the trend.

There is little to no chance that Thomas-Oliver makes it onto the practice squad if Carolina selects to go in this direction.

Any window of opportunity for someone else to take the player will be snapped up. And this will be particularly evident if he showcases his talent during the preseason.