5 Panthers players who need to step up in Year 2 with the team
By Dean Jones
Juston Burris – Carolina Panthers S
Juston Burris would have been waiting nervously for his fate to be decided this offseason after an inconsistent season. The Carolina Panthers gave the safety a reprieve – choosing to release Tre Boston ahead of time instead – and their failure to address this need during free agency or the 2021 NFL Draft might be another confidence boost for the veteran heading into the final year of his deal.
Burris will also benefit greatly from having Jeremy Chinn alongside him on the backend. The dynamic playmaker took the NFL by storm during his rookie campaign and was unfortunate not to win Defensive Rookie of the Year following a series of outstanding performances at outside linebacker.
Moving him to his preferred position is a natural progression and one that could solidify an area of the field that became a problem in 2020. Burris could be the primary beneficiary of this, although he also needs to make more of a contribution judging by last season’s efforts.
Restructuring his contract rather than cutting him loose indicates the Panthers aren’t quite willing to give up on Burris just yet. He’ll have promising duo Sam Farnklin and Myles Hartsfield breathing down his neck, with the prospect of acquiring a veteran in free agency not out of the question in the coming weeks.
Burris needs to make the most out of his second chance. There will not be a third.