Carolina Panthers training camp: 5 key battles to watch
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers camp battle No. 1: Juston Burris vs Jeremy Chinn (S)
The Carolina Panthers did not trade back into the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft so that Jeremy Chinn could spend his rookie campaign on the sidelines. The former Southern Illinois standout is a supreme athlete who can make a difference all over the field. And big things are expected of the player in 2020.
Juston Burris is not going to make things easy for Chinn in his pursuit of a starting role from day one. The Panthers gave the former Cleveland Brown a two-year, $8 million deal in free agency. And he has proven experience as a solid starter in the NFL.
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This will be one of the more interesting battles during camp. Much will depend on where defensive coordinator Phil Snow plans to use Chinn early on. With the player keen to fill the role of playmaker rather than be consigned to one position.
There appears little doubt that Chinn will eventually become the starter at safety opposite Tre Boston. But whether this comes from week one remains to be seen.
Burris has the potential to smooth the rookie’s transition, at the very least. And there is even the possibility he can make the starting spot his own with solid production on the field.
Although Chinn brings exceptional athletic traits to the table. There is just no telling how this is going to make an impact in the NFL.
Having more experience on the backend might be the way to go initially for the Panthers. And this will ultimately come down to what each player shows during camp.