4 high-risk free agents the Panthers should consider in 2021
By Dean Jones
Xavier Rhodes – CB
- 2020 team – Indianapolis Colts
It’s easy to forget that Xavier Rhodes was arguably the NFL’s best cover cornerback once upon a time. The former first-round pick achieved All-Pro honors with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017 after locking down the best in the business almost every week. But a dramatic fall from grace saw the player eventually released last year with his reputation in tatters.
Rhodes signed a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts, which proved to be the making of him. The Florida State product looked back to something like his old self and although there was the odd costly mistake, it was nothing like what we saw from the veteran during his final two years in Minnesota.
The Colts would probably like to keep Rhodes around and they have the salary-cap to do so. But if they can’t agree to terms, then there might be a considerable amount of interest from other teams across the league following his return to form.
If the Carolina Panthers explore the possibility of acquiring Rhodes, it’s one they should approach with caution.
Cornerbacks tend to fall off the cliff quicker than most. Rhodes does get left a little flat-footed now – which is something one seldom saw from the player in his prime – so there will always be that worry about whether his turnaround in fortunes was just a one-year arrangement with a big chip on his shoulder.