What can RB Trenton Cannon bring to the Carolina Panthers?

What can running back Trenton Cannon bring to the Carolina Panthers after the organization claimed him off the waiver wire this week?

The Carolina Panthers took the decision to bolster their running back room this week. This will provide further competition for places on the 53-man roster during training camp. And who performs well during team drills could become the primary backup for All-Pro Christian McCaffrey in 2020.

It was something of a surprise for the Carolina Panthers to add another player in this area of the field. They recently parted ways with promising undrafted free-agent Rodney Smith. And there are already three individuals fighting for the No. 2 spot in the event McCaffrey needs some time off the field at any point during the upcoming campaign.

New head coach Matt Rhule has picked a few players off the waiver wire in recent days. And his latest acquisition sees Trenton Cannon arrive in Carolina after he was released by the New York Jets.

The former sixth-round pick didn’t see much of the field in 2019. But Cannon has an intriguing skill set that might see him push for a spot on the 53-man roster.

What sort of impact could Trenton Cannon make with the Carolina Panthers?

A lot needs to go Cannon’s way for him to achieve this feat. The back will need to grasp the playbook in an incredibly short space of time. And having no preseason games to showcase his talent is another stumbling block for the player to overcome.

Cannon showed some real promise during his rookie season. His low center of gravity combined with a dual-threat presence in the Jets’ backfield. And this was something that really caught the eye.

This resulted in 113 rushing yards, one touchdown, and seven first downs from 38 carries. Cannon also recorded 17 receptions from 25 targets on his way to 114 receiving yards and four first downs.

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Cannon’s elusiveness also proved to be a valuable asset to have in the return game. But the Panthers do have another weapon in this area in the form of Pharoh Cooper. So it will be interesting to see where and how the recent arrival will be utilized if he makes it onto the roster.

He was unable to build on this during his sophomore campaign. But this can be put down to foot and ankle injuries that ended with a trip to the injured reserve list in early November.

Reggie Bonnafon looks to be the clear favorite to win the No. 2 job after impressing considerably in 2019. His 7.3 yards-per-carry average is something that will stand him in good stead as the player looks to build on this showing in his second season. But the likes of Mike Davis and Jordan Scarlett will also fancy their chances of impressing a brand-new coaching staff.

Whether Cannon will be able to stamp his authority on proceedings is up for debate. His athleticism and ability to contribute on a three-down basis is something that complements McCaffrey well. And there could be an opening for the primary backup to see more carries as the Panthers look to take some of the load off their new face of the franchise.

Cannon has his work cut out, without question. But Carolina sees something in him. And it is essential that the player makes the most out of this opportunity.