5 roster moves that could instantly save the Panthers $26 million

Release Matt Paradis

• Cap saving – $4.93 million

Matt Paradis is projected to take up around 5.7 percent of the Carolina Panthers’ financial resources in 2021, according to Over the Cap. This is simply not viable despite a slight turnaround in performance from the center this season.

Paradis deserves credit for putting a dismal 2019 campaign behind him and generating some semblance of respectability back into his play. That being said, it wasn’t as if he was exceptional by any stretch of the imagination and the $4.93 million Carolina would save by releasing him with a year left on his deal is an enticing proposition.

Players like Paradis are good to have both on and off the field. But he hasn’t had anything in the way of consistent production from the two guard positions over the last two seasons and this has had an adverse effect on his ability to influence proceedings as people would’ve hoped when he arrived from the Denver Broncos.

As stated previously, this is a deep draft for interior offensive linemen. Not only will this give Carolina a chance to upgrade this area of the field, but it would also come with substantially lower money if new general manager Scott Fitterer can find some gems in the later rounds.

This makes it highly likely that Paradis will be a salary-cap casualty this offseason providing a good replacement is found.