Carolina Panthers: 3 free-agent replacements for Christian Miller

Christian Miller has decided to opt-out of the upcoming season. Here are three free-agent alternatives should the Carolina Panthers choose to bring in someone else.

Things are getting tense across the NFL as players decide to opt-out over health concerns in 2020. The Carolina Panthers are not exempt from this. And the organization was informed of the second player who has put family over football in the current climate.

Outside linebacker Christian Miller looked primed for a second-year leap with the Carolina Panthers next season. And there was a real chance for the player to fill a starting role opposite Shaq Thompson with a strong showing at training camp. Instead, the former Alabama standout will now sit out the campaign to add his name to the dozens of others who have chosen to go down the same route.

This represents something of a blow to the Panthers. But new head coach Matt Rhule will be hoping that others do not also decide to opt-out before the expected Wednesday deadline.

It has arguably been the most disrupted offseason in NFL history. And Rhule is on a hiding to nothing regarding Carolina’s fortunes next time around.

Two players at the second level have already decided not to participate. And this leaves them with a lack of any real depth ahead of their return to the field at training camp.

They do have an opening for another potential outside linebacker to come in and compete for a place on the 53-man roster. The Panthers trimmed those looking to stake a claim at training camp way ahead of the deadline. And the franchise also has the cap space necessary to acquire someone else on the free-agent market.

Here are three alternatives for Miller that could come in to try and catch the eye of Panthers’ coaching staff in the coming weeks.