4 free-agent CBs to target after disappointing Week 1 display

Jaylen Watkins

Another player of interest who didn’t quite do enough to make it on a 2020 roster initially is Jaylen Watkins. He was part of the Houston Texans’ training camp but was cut prior to the campaign, leaving him on the free-agent scrapheap shortly before competitive action got back underway.

Watkins was part of the Los Angeles Chargers last time out, giving up 24 of 26 receptions on his way to a modest 55.2 grade from Pro Football Focus. The former fourth-round pick possesses the sort of athleticism that the new staff of the Carolina Panthers sought heavily during their recruitment process this offseason and it is unlikely that the player would command a big salary at this juncture.

His first four years in the NFL were spent on the Philadelphia Eagles, where he took his time to integrate himself into the lineup after being something of a raw prospect coming out of college.

This is something that Watkins did well without ever really doing enough to make a starting position his own. He can operate on the outside, in the slot, or even at safety should the opportunity arise and this is another trait that the Panthers looked for heavily during an unprecedented few months of player movement.

This current group might get two or three more games to find their feet. Having no preseason to adjust means they should get the benefit of the doubt initially. But the Panthers will be monitoring this situation closely over the next fortnight.