4 Panthers players who could get early extensions in 2021
By Dean Jones
Which Carolina Panthers players could be in line for early extensions before competitive action gets underway in 2021?
The Carolina Panthers have plenty of big decisions to make in the coming weeks. No fewer than 25 of their current roster are out of contract and with financial resources coming down due to COVID-19 revenue losses, it makes it very difficult to keep everybody happy given the sacrifices needed to sustain the team’s long and short-term aspirations.
This isn’t the easiest situation for general manager Scott Fitterer to be walking into. He will already be in deep discussions with head coach Matt Rhule regarding which players to keep around or move on, which also includes some veterans who are early candidates for possible release to free-up extra funds.
Another element to the preparation period that shouldn’t be overlooked is the need to examine which individuals would it be worth getting a longer commitment from ahead of time. These contracts wouldn’t start until 2022 when it’s anticipated things will look a little more promising regarding the cap across the league. So tying some top talent down in the coming months would be a smart move by the front office.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at four Panthers players who might be in line for early contract extensions this offseason.
Player No. 1
Donte Jackson – Carolina Panthers CB
Donte Jackson looked like the No. 1 cornerback he was expected to be during the final few games of the 2020 season. The former second-round pick dealt with a frustrating toe injury throughout the campaign before getting almost a month off to fully heal, which made all the difference to his production.
Providing there are no more complications on the injury front, then the Panthers can expect a career year for Jackson in 2021. This will no doubt see his asking price skyrocket when he heads to the bargaining table once he becomes a free agent in 2022, so getting him extended right now could save Carolina some substantial money in the long run.
Considering how many questions there are with other members of the secondary, it might enhance Jackson’s chances of getting a long-term deal at the earliest possible opportunity.