4 Panthers role-players who must be re-signed in 2021

Rasul Douglas – Carolina Panthers CB

Rasul Douglas has been one of the best free-agent pickups by the Carolina Panthers this offseason. The cornerback was scooped up by the organization after his release from the Philadelphia Eagles – where he failed to make their 53-man roster – and he has been a nice surprise at a position of need.

There has been plenty of responsibility thrown at Douglas during the season after initially coming in as a rotational piece. Donte Jackson has struggled throughout the campaign with a troublesome toe problem that’s forced him to miss the last two games and Eli Apple was let go after struggling with an injury that restricted him to a minimal contribution.

This is something Douglas has coped with well, for the most part. There have been times where he’s struggled. But if the Panthers can extend him this offseason with a healthy Jackson and perhaps a new recruit via free agency or the 2021 NFL Draft, then it should bring about even better production from a unit that has made some nice strides.

Douglas is familiar with the system now and has fitted into the locker room environment seamlessly. It’s not easy for players who arrive late and the fact he has performed so well having spent all of training camp with a different team should be enough to see the former West Virginia standout get a new deal.