Carolina Panthers: 5 players that could be cut before training camp

Carolina Panthers Player No. 1: Mike Davis (RB)

The Carolina Panthers might decide to cut their losses with Mike Davis before camp if the NFL goes ahead with trimming down rosters. The chances of the running back seeing notable time on the field in 2020 appears slim. And parting ways with the player would also give them some much-needed salary cap relief.

Only one of the Panthers’ draft picks have currently signed their rookie deals. And Carolina has around $11.11 million in cap space currently. This is expected to gather pace in the coming weeks. But the team will need some additional breathing space in case a player of interest becomes available during the proposed “trimming” process.

Davis is set to count $3 million against the cap in 2020. And if the Panthers opted to release him, it wouldn’t add to their incredible dead money figure that stands at $41.11 million.

This could be an option that is simply too tempting to pass up. The former fourth-round pick out of South Carolina carried the ball just 13 times in 2019 and managed a yards-per-carry average of 2.1. Compared this to the way Reggie Bonnafon made the most out of limited opportunities. And it is hard to make a case for Davis making the 53-man roster.

The Panthers might want to see a little more of Jordan Scarlett in his second season. And undrafted free-agent Rodney Smith is a fluid runner that would come at a far less financial commitment than what has currently been allocated to Davis.