4 veteran free agents the Carolina Panthers shouldn’t re-sign
By Dean Jones
Which veteran free agents should the Carolina Panthers move on from in 2021?
Although the main focus from a fan perspective is who exactly will be coming to the Carolina Panthers in free agency, the organization faces some big decisions about current roster members who are out of contract this spring. However, this landscape should become a little clearer in the coming days as plans become final before the hugely important period of recruitment gets underway.
Some decisions will be easier than others, of that there is little doubt. Players like Tahir Whitehead won’t be brought back after failing to produce the goods when it mattered most. But some will be waiting anxiously for their fate following seasons of inconsistency.
As is the case with every decision the Panthers make in the current climate, a lot will depend on the financial implications. The front office has done a nice job of freeing additional funds to strengthen but there is still no margin for error with the choices Carolina makes.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at four veterans who shouldn’t be brought back by the Panthers in 2021.
Player No. 1
Pharoh Cooper – Carolina Panthers WR/KR
Considering the Panthers recently extended Brandon Zylstra and Keith Kirkwood to one-year extensions, the writing might be on the wall for Pharoh Cooper. The wide receiver was barely a factor in the passing game during the season and even though he did bring something to the return game, it might not be enough to see the former All-Pro get another deal.
Cooper’s ability to impact the game in a multitude of different ways, it was surprising to see how little the player was utilized on offense. Carolina has plenty of talented mouths to feed in Joe Brady’s scheme and this left the former Arizona Cardinal getting just eight targets thrown his way throughout the campaign.
The Panthers could be set to lose Curtis Samuel in free agency after the wideout accumulated more than 1,000 all-purpose yards for the first time in his career. But there will be better options than Cooper if they need a replacement.