5 AFC South free-agents the Panthers could target in 2021
By Dean Jones
Gareon Conley – CB
- 2020 team – Houston Texans
Another player who is entering free agency that does have a couple of injury questions to answer is Gareon Conley. The former first-round pick suffered some major complications to arthroscopic ankle surgery that eventually saw him miss the entire 2020 season with little in the way of explanation from the Houston Texans as to what exactly went wrong.
This would need some significant investigation from the Carolina Panthers if they wanted to enquire about bringing Conley to the franchise. The cornerback didn’t live up to his billing after being drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders and although there were glimpses of promise in 2019, he never got the chance to build on it this time around.
Considering how much upheaval is going on in Houston at the moment, extending Conley isn’t going to be high on their list of priorities. Wherever he ends up next with be a last chance saloon scenario. But head coach Matt Rhule has proven more than willing to take players like this on if he thinks it could help the team’s chances.
Carolina has something of a need at cornerback despite Donte Jackson showing he can be a No. 1 player on the depth chart down the stretch. Corn Elder and Rasul Douglas are both out of contract, so getting someone else to take the heat of rookie duo Stantley Thomas-Oliver III and Troy Pride Jr. would be a smart move.