5 Panthers not named Sam Darnold with the most at stake in 2021

Denzel Perryman – Carolina Panthers LB

Denzel Perryman is a bit of an enigma.

He is a player that shows superstar capabilities in a body that always seems to betray him in some way during the season, which is disappointing when you consider what the former Los Angeles Charger is capable of on the field.

Perryman has never completed a full season in the NFL. In fact, he’s never really come close, especially as a starter. The Miami stud got closest in 2016 where they started 11 of the 12 games, but since then it has been very up and down.

When taking a deeper look into Perryman’s injury history things get even more concerning with repeat problems to specific joints and tendons showing a worrying pattern. Especially in the soft tissues of his body and more specifically the left knee.

This makes one wonder if he has some other underlying issue or if it is simply genetic durability.

With that being said, Perryman is a bulldozer with high instincts at the linebacker position. He has the ability to know where the ball is going and charge it as well as sit back in coverage to disrupt a pass or lower the boom to limit the gain.

Looking at his tape there are hard hits and correct angles taken all over the place, even when he doesn’t make the flashy play. But then again, Perryman’s on-field performance has never been the issue.

Perryman has been given what some consider to be one last chance to prove that they can make it in the punishing world that is the NFL. If he can’t stay healthy enough to play out his two-year contract with the Carolina Panthers, he will go down as yet another player with massive potential that never had the chance to be realized because of a body that just couldn’t stay together.

While a lot of players might be looking to prove that they have the skills necessary to stay in the league, Perryman just wants to prove he can stay on the field long enough to show the skills the defender clearly possesses.