3 recent veteran cuts that should be brought in by the Panthers
By Noah Bryce
Danny Shelton – DT
With all the recent cuts at defensive tackle, the Carolina Panthers have a gaping hole up the middle beside Derrick Brown. Especially after the release of Zach Kerr who was an integral part of the line after the season-ending injury of Kawaan Short. Danny Shelton could help fill that hole.
Shelton has never been a superstar but did show a flash in the pan during the 2019 season. The defensive tackle recorded three sacks and a monstrous 61 tackles, 30 of those being solo. However, that production took a deep dip after moving to Detroit in 2020. Where have we heard that before?
Even with this regression, Shelton would be a solid rotational piece to put behind a star free-agent or young draft pick. In fact, the journeyman’s stats aren’t far off the performance of Brown last season, with a few more tackles and one less sack than the Panthers’ star rookie.
With the addition of Reddick and Morgan Fox along the outside – with the latter also showing capability as a three-technique on the interior – opportunities should blossom up the middle for whoever is there and Shelton has shown that they can take advantage of those opportunities when available.
In a market of big-name sack leaders, a player like Shelton could be easily overlooked. But, if they can bring back that flash, the Panthers would come out of any deal all smiles.