5 players whose time with the 2020 Panthers won’t be remembered

Tahir Whitehead – Carolina Panthers LB

It’s hard to put into words just what a disappointment Tahir Whitehead was in 2020. Losing legendary linebacker Luke Kuechly to a shock retirement was a bitter blow, but the Carolina Panthers held out hope that their free-agent signing would do enough to plug the gap until a longer-term solution could be found.

A strong impression on his teammates at training camp saw Whitehead selected as a captain for the campaign, which should have given him all the confidence in the world to hit the ground running.

Sadly, it didn’t work out as anybody hoped.

Whitehead was like a fish out of water from the moment he stepped onto the field. His lack of ability both in coverage and in run support quickly became a weak link and his poor level of production also had an impact on players around him.

This did not go unnoticed by the coaching staff, who gradually phased Whitehead out of the lineup before removing him completely when Matt Rhule and Jermaine Carter patched up their differences after a clear personality clash between the two earlier in the campaign.

Things got better with Carter occupying the middle linebacker spot, which was a further indication of just how much Whitehead was bringing everybody down. The Panthers gave him a one-year, $2.5 million deal in free agency, but there is absolutely no chance of the former Temple product getting an extension.

And nobody will remember his time with the organization with any special fondness.