3 questions at safety for the Carolina Panthers in 2020

Could Juston Burris be the best free-agent pickup?

There was not much in the ways of big splashes in free agency by the Carolina Panthers on defense. Defensive end Stephen Weatherly was their highest financial outlay. With the decision-makers opting to bring in significant reinforcements via the 2020 NFL Draft.

One eye-catching arrival was the acquisition of Juston Burris. The safety arrived on a two-year, $8 million deal that included a $2.1 million signing bonus and $2.1 million guaranteed this offseason. And he arrives in Carolina with a tremendous amount of upside.

Burris played well for the Cleveland Browns in 2019 for a defense that struggled overall. He ended the campaign with 26 solo tackles, two interceptions, seven pass deflections, one sack, and one forced fumble. This earned him a respectable 69.7 grade from Pro Football Focus. But it was not enough to extend his stay with the franchise.

This represents another tremendous opportunity for Burris. He is projected to start in Week 1 depending on where the Panthers use Jeremy Chinn. And the tandem with Tre Boston promises to be one that can bring some immediate success and consistency.

Whether Burris will do enough to keep Chinn from starting if Carolina decides to put him at his specialist position is up for debate. One expects the former North Carolina State standout to see the field prominently during the early stages of the season. But what comes next will be ultimately down to how the player performs in a competitive environment.