Which free agents of practice squad players should the Carolina Panthers target after losing Kawann Short and Yetur Gross-Matos to injury?
The Carolina Panthers suffered two blows to their defensive line options ahead of their Week 6 game against the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium. This has thrown a spanner in the works for an organization that is riding on the crest of a wave after winning three straight to get themselves back to a winning record.
Veteran defensive tackle Kawann Short has undergone shoulder surgery that will see him miss the remainder of the 2020 season. This is the second consecutive year that the Pro Bowler has left the roster early and there is every likelihood he has played his final game for the Carolina Panthers due to his $20.83 million salary-cap hit in 2021.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the Panthers were dealt another considerable loss with the news that second-round pick Yetur Gross-Matos is also set for a spell on the reserve/injured list with an ankle injury that will keep him sidelined for at least the next three weeks.
Head coach Matt Rhule has stated that he is happy with their other options going forward. But if they want to mount a more substantial postseason push after a surprising start, then more will undoubtedly be needed.
Carolina’s run defense remains a significant concern and losing Gross-Matos, in particular, has the potential to have a detrimental impact on the team’s ability to generate pressure consistently.
Let’s take a look at four players, who are either free agents or members of a practice squad, that could help bolster the Panthers’ defensive line depth.
Marcell Dareus – DT (free agent)
One of the more prominent names that jump out from the current free-agent options remaining is Marcell Dareus. The veteran defensive tackle is still looking for a new home despite a strong NFL career and there is little doubt he could benefit the Carolina Panthers considerably in Kawann Short’s absence.
The ceiling could not have been higher for Dareus entering the league. He was selected No. 3 overall by the Buffalo Bills following a standout college career at Alabama and has one All-Pro selection and two Pro Bowl trips to show for his efforts.
Dareus has recorded 37.5 sacks, 365 combined tackles, 255 solo tackles, 61 quarterback hits, 50 tackles for loss, 15 passes defended, and three forced fumbles during his career. This sort of experience would come in very handy alongside No. 7 overall pick Derrick Brown, who is going through some growing pains at the next level in addition to showing a significant amount of promise.
This would not only give the Panthers a reliable presence on the interior. But it would also provide them with a prominent locker room leader with Short out of the picture. His play for the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 was good enough to get a 62.7 grade from Pro Football Focus and Carolina could do far worse if they went in this particular direction.
Sylvester Williams – DT (practice squad)
Sylvester Williams is a man mountain who thrives in run support. This is an area where the Carolina Panthers have shown a slight improvement this season. But the bar was at an all-time low following a dismal campaign last time out.
The Panthers are still giving up 133.4 yards-per-game on the ground, which simply isn’t good enough if they want to become the NFL’s surprise package. Williams would undoubtedly jump at the chance to return to a full roster once again after being a relative afterthought in free agency before becoming a member of the practice squad at the Denver Broncos.
Williams would be no stranger to the likes of Michael Schofield and Russell Okung from their time together at the Los Angeles Chargers. They could provide Carolina’s coaching staff with some valuable intel regarding the defensive tackle and his ability to fit in with what the Panthers are trying to accomplish.
The veteran has been seen as more of a rotational player since losing his starting job in Denver the first time around. Given the way Zach Kerr has produced the goods in Carolina this season, that might be all that defensive coordinator Phil Snow is looking for at this juncture until a longer-term solution can be found.
Bryan Cox Jr. – DE (practice squad)
Bryan Cox Jr. would have absolutely no trouble fitting into the Carolina Panthers having played for the organization during the first two years of his professional career. Things haven’t gone according to plan for the defensive end since the team cut his second spell with the franchise short in 2019 and whether it any different a third time around or not is up for debate.
Cox Jr. is a determined pass-rusher. What he lacks in explosiveness, he more than makes up for with effort and perseverance. So if the Panthers are looking to boost their depth with someone who knows the set-up, then they would do worse than getting the former Florida State standout off the Buffalo Bills practice squad.
Better the devil you know, right?
General manager Marty Hurney might know plenty about Cox Jr. But this coaching staff is brand-new and it represents a good chance for the player to make a bigger impression if he was to end up on the Panthers for the third time.
This would be a move to provide depth and not much else. There wouldn’t be much in the way of expectations regarding Cox Jr. bringing the same heat as Yetur Gross-Matos. But his skill set would suggest he could come in in certain packages and potentially make a difference.
Anthony Zettel – DE (practice squad)
Things haven’t been great for Anthony Zettel since his breakout season for the Detroit Lions in 2017 where he notched 6.5 sacks. The defensive end has struggled to reach the same heights since then. But he did do enough during the offseason period to earn a place on the New Orleans Saints practice squad.
This would be a good addition for the Carolina Panthers, providing Zettel can fit in straight away. It would also take a talented player away from their NFC South rivals if they were ever struggling for depth in this particular area, which appears unlikely given the strength at their disposal.
Zettel worked hard to earn a starting role after being taken in the sixth round by the Lions. He has bounced around the NFL since Detroit eventually decided to cut their losses but there could be some light at the end of the tunnel regarding a possible chance to make a roster again in the not-too-distant future.
Getting into the New Orleans set-up is not easy, whether as part of the 53 or on the practice squad. He was also part of the San Francisco 49ers ‘ vaunted defense in 2019, albeit in a limited role, and this could be a nice pickup for the Panthers in the situation they currently find themselves in.