Panthers: How would salaries on offense look with 35% escrow?

Carolina Panthers Player No. 13: Ian Thomas (TE) – $750,000 base – $487,500 after reduction

Ian Thomas is not making what a No. 1 tight end should currently. But this is his first year as a projected starter and he still has much to prove in terms of production.

If the escrow becomes a reality, Thomas will make just $487,500 in base salary next season. How the player performs in a crucial 2020 campaign from a personal perspective could see this skyrocket next spring.

Thomas will be given every opportunity to become a prolific presence in the passing game. But this deficit in his salary might become an unwelcome distraction.

Carolina Panthers Player No. 14: Dennis Daley (OL) – $675,000 base – $438,750 after reduction

Dennis Daley is going into the second year of his rookie deal. And it remains to be seen whether or not the player will see out his contract following a campaign littered with difficulties.

Moving him into the guard spot would be the best way to go at this time. However, Daley is not guaranteed to start in the presence of John Miller and Michael Schofield. So the Carolina Panthers might opt to take him out of the firing line entirely in the coming months.

The lineman would go from a $675,000 base to just $438,750 due to the NFL’s proposal. This is to be expected from a sixth-round pick. And the onus will be on Daley to bounce back as a sophomore pro.

Carolina Panthers Player No. 15: Reggie Bonnafon (RB) – $675,000 base – $438,750 after reduction

Reggie Bonnafon is coming into the season as the No. 2 running back behind Christian McCaffrey. He made a strong impression during his limited time on the field in 2019. And another strong showing next time out will do his chances of a long-term stay with the Carolina Panthers a tremendous amount of good.

Bonnafon is a low-risk, high-reward player going into the new campaign. He will make a $675,000 base that will come down to $438,750 with the escrow cut.