4 Panthers who could outplay their contracts in 2020
By Dean Jones
TAHIRWHITEHEAD. 3. player. LB. CAROLINA PANTHERS. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 87
Carolina Panthers Player No. 3: Tahir Whitehead (LB)
The Carolina Panthers brought in Tahir Whitehead to fill the enormous shoes left by legendary linebacker Luke Kuechly’s shock retirement. The player has proved more than a capable starter during his career. And he is sure to relish this particular challenge in 2020.
Whitehead might be the wrong side of 30 now. But there is still a window of opportunity for the player to get a longer-term commitment from the Panthers next season.
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He was nothing short of a tackling machine in a two-year stint with the Las Vegas Raiders. And if he can replicate this sort of performance in Carolina, the organization will be getting a bargain.
Although a long-term solution will be needed at the position down the line. If Whitehead can deliver next season. Then he could be a solid option for a three-to-four-year spell, depending on form and health.
He is due to make a little more than $1 million in base salary for his efforts in 2020. This isn’t much more than the veterans’ minimum. So the onus will be on the player to prove his worth when competitive action gets underway.
There is nothing to suggest that Whitehead is not more than capable of this. He does have problems in coverage across the middle. But the Panthers have a dominant-looking front seven going into the campaign, which is going to be a nice security blanket for the former Temple standout.