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

Carolina Panthers Player No. 4: Sam Tecklenburg (OL)

Offensive lineman Sam Tecklenburg didn’t last long on the undrafted free-agent market before he was snapped up by the Carolina Panthers. The move reunited the player with Matt Rhule, who worked with him closely at Baylor.

There will be nobody that knows more about the potential Tecklenburg has at the next level than Rhule. The head coach also used him as a blocking tight end in college. And this sort of versatility is something that has been especially evident in most of Carolina’s new faces this offseason.

That being said, there doesn’t appear to be much chance of Tecklenburg making the rotation despite the obvious concerns surrounding the Panthers’ offensive line. Should the NFL decide that training camp rosters need to be cut in order to become safer, then the tackle’s name is going to be high on the shortlist when it comes to those who may be moved on.

This would be a massive disappointment both for the player and for his head coach. Rhule has surrounded himself with familiar college faces in a bid to make his coaching transition to the NFL as smooth as possible. But making tough decisions such as this is something every coach has to do throughout their careers. So it is vital they do not become too emotionally attached.

This is something that Bill Belichick has done ruthlessly well during his time with the New England Patriots. And given how many ex-players Rhule opted to bring in. The trimming before camp proposal means he is going to find this out the hard way.