Carolina Panthers No. 41: 3 problems facing Eli Apple in 2020
By Dean Jones
What are some of the problems facing cornerback Eli Apple during his first season with the Carolina Panthers in 2020?
There are questions aplenty facing the Carolina Panthers next season. This is to be expected when one considers the size of the rebuild currently being undertaken by the organization. And things have not been helped by an offseason that has been severely disrupted by the current climate.
One notable area with arguably the most uncertainty is cornerback. Vast changes were made across the board in a bid to turnaround their fortunes. But the Carolina Panthers face some exceptional offenses in 2020, so things might get worse before seeing any signs of real progress.
It will be something of a surprise is everything clicks into place right away. The Panthers won’t have any preseason games to develop chemistry before their week one opener against the Las Vegas Raiders in just 41 days’ time. And it is vital that each member of the roster makes every snap count during team drills at training camp.
Continuing our countdown features ahead of the new campaign, we now turn our attention to Carolina’s No. 41. Eli Apple was a late arrival to the Panthers in free agency. And he comes into the organization with plenty to prove.
The former No. 10 overall pick has flattered to deceive during his career so far. And whether he shift this trend is something to keep a close eye on next season.
Apple signed a one-year, $3 million deal in Carolina following the 2020 NFL Draft. The player will get the chance to make a starting spot his own opposite unrivaled No. 1 option Donte Jackson. But he has a lot riding on the upcoming campaign, to put it mildly.
Here are three problems facing Apple as he looks to make the most out of this chance with the Panthers.