4 recent releases who could help the Carolina Panthers in 2021

Kyle Van Noy – LB

• 2020 team – Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins made the move to part ways with prolific linebacker Kyle Van Noy this week, which came as a real shock to the player. This is all part of the team’s desire to get a younger, more athletic defense in a similar way to what we’ve seen from the Carolina Panthers since Matt Rhule arrived from Baylor and save a considerable amount of money in the process.

Van Noy is a player who has the sort of versatility the Panthers coveted heavily during their recruitment process last time out. He can operate at any position at the second level with equal effectiveness and Carolina should be aiming to solidify this unit to further improve a defense that made some noticeable strides during the 2020 season.

There were more than a few eyebrows raised when the two-time Super Bowl champion left the New England Patriots last spring in favor of a move to an AFC East rival.

Van Noy performed well over 14 games on his way to six sacks, 64 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and 18 pressures. So the decision to part ways with the veteran just one year into his deal was based purely on financial savings and not on production.

The Panthers would be wise to put a call Van Noy’s way. His ability to disrupt is something Carolina just didn’t get from Shaq Thompson in 2020 and outsider linebacker becomes even more of a need if they decide to move stud rookie Jeremy Chinn back to his preferred position on the backend.