Panthers: 10 cuts Carolina could make before August deadline

Carolina Panthers Player No. 2: TreVontae Hights (WR)

The Carolina Panthers might have wanted to see a little bit more of TreVontae Hights during training camp and the preseason. But with no fixtures on the calendar before competitive action gets underway, it might force the organization’s hand regarding his future.

This is all part of the business. And Hights could find out sooner rather than later just how brutal life at the professional level actually is. The wideout is a relatively unknown quantity having seen little of the field during his time at TCU. So he is a gamble that the Panthers cannot afford to take at this stage of their development.

Carolina Panthers Player No. 3: Colin Thompson (TE)

Colin Thompson is someone who has a previous relationship with Matt Rhule during their time at Temple. But he has no real NFL experience and would undoubtedly be a prime candidate for an early release.

There is no room for sentiment in the NFL. Rhule will find that out to his cost in the coming weeks. And although the tight end position is lacking any real depth behind Ian Thomas. Thompson’s future with the franchise appears bleak.

Carolina Panthers Player No. 4: Mike Davis (RB)

The Carolina Panthers have plenty of competition for places for their No. 2 running back spot. But Mike Davis might not get a chance to fight for this place before their roster is trimmed to 80.

Davis has a lot of likable traits. However, his $3 million in base salary is simply too much for someone at his position on the depth chart. And it wouldn’t cost the Panthers anything in the way of dead cap money if he is moved on.

This is too tempting a proposition to ignore. And the decision-makers might opt to give undrafted rookie Rodney Smith a shot instead of the fifth-year-pro out of South Carolina.