5 Panthers players who could be surprise cuts this offseason
By Dean Jones
Which Carolina Panthers players could be surprise cuts in 2021?
It is going to be another offseason of immense importance for the Carolina Panthers in 2021. They’ve made a good start under head coach Matt Rhule following a hugely disrupted preparation period that saw a host of changes. But it is evident that much more will be needed to take that next step and become a possible playoff contender.
There should be a little more wiggle room financially for the Carolina Panthers in free agency and when the time comes to negotiate possible extensions for out-of-contract players. The likes of Taylor Moton and Curtis Samuel should be top priorities in this regard and if the organization lost either of them, it has the potential to set them back considerably.
Other individuals will be nervously looking over their shoulders after failing to perform as expected. Some might also become salary-cap casualties if the Panthers decide that the money allocated to certain players would be better spent elsewhere.
Let’s take a look at five Panthers players who could be surprise cuts this offseason.
Player No. 1
Matt Paradis – Carolina Panthers C
- Cap saving – $4.93 million
Matt Paradis has raised his level of performance sufficiently this season after a disastrous 2019 that had some questioning the decision to bring him to Carolina in the first place. The center has been a commanding presence, for the most part, which has been a welcome boost for interior protection which has been hit and miss of late.
Whether this will be enough to extend Paradis’ stay beyond this season is still up for debate. The Panthers might decide to cut their losses and look at a younger alternative to save them around $4.93 million in cap space, with the offensive line set for another potential overhaul next spring.
This would be something of a surprise and would possibly cause complications for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in terms of continuity. But it is a realistic option where Paradis is concerned.