4 Carolina Panthers players who finished 2020 on a sour note
By Dean Jones
Which Carolina Panthers players finished the 2020 season on a sour note?
As expected, it was a 2020 season full of ups and downs for the Carolina Panthers. Head coach Matt Rhule was tasked with bringing a young roster together in difficult circumstances and although there were plenty of memorable moments, the former Baylor man made no secret of the importance of this coming offseason in pursuit of becoming a playoff contender once again.
One positive the Carolina Panthers can take from the season is their exciting core. They have some potential stars just beginning their NFL careers on both sides of the ball and providing the right pieces are brought in around them during free agency or the 2021 NFL Draft, it should come with some real improvements next time around.
For others, the future is not so certain.
Carolina has a large number of players out of contract this spring and other veteran pieces who might see their time with the organization come to a premature halt to give the Panthers some extra wiggle room on their salary cap.
With that, here are four Panthers players who ended the 2020 season on a sour note.
Player No. 1
Rasul Douglas – Carolina Panthers CB
It all started so promisingly between Rasul Douglas and the Panthers. But his considerable regression down the stretch has plunged his future with the franchise into doubt.
The cornerback settled in seamlessly after being a late arrival to Carolina, demonstrating the sort of early production that was essential with Donte Jackson’s toe problem preventing him from having a significant influence on proceedings.
Douglas will know more than anyone that his standard of play just hasn’t been good enough of late. Carolina’s defense overall showed some marked improvements down the stretch but their need for reinforcements in their secondary was there for all to see during a Week 17 loss against the New Orleans Saints.
What comes next for the player is unclear. But there will need to be more consistency surrounding his production whether Douglas is given a reprieve by the Panthers or not.