4 potential mistakes the Carolina Panthers made this offseason
The Carolina Panthers made many great moves this offseason, but some could potentially lead to mistakes for them.
The Carolina Panthers made some early acquisitions in free agency. Many believe they may have moved too fast on picking up certain players. After coming off of a 5-11 season, the organization filled many holes within the roster.
The Panthers released a fan favorite that produced when on the field, a new decision regarding the playing surface at Bank of America Stadium, and not signing a certain player long-term could also raise a lot of eyebrows if not resolved quickly.
With that said, here’s a look at four potential mistakes the Panthers made during the 2021 offseason.
Carolina Panthers signing Cam Erving
The Panthers signed offensive tackle Cam Erving to a two-year, $10 million deal that included a $2.5 million signing bonus and $8 million guaranteed to kick off free agency.
Erving has had some ups and downs in his NFL career. He was drafted No. 19 overall by the Cleveland Browns, so coming out of college he was a highly respected prospect.
The lineman has not lived up to these expectations. Erving is yet to complete a full season during his career, which is a huge question mark. Health at the left tackle position has always been a question mark for the Panthers, and it has been a revolving door ever since Jordan Gross retired following the 2013 campaign.
When Erving is healthy, his play on the field is questionable as well.
In 2019, he played 589 snaps and accumulated seven penalties with five sacks allowed, according to Pro Football Focus. Erving only played 279 snaps last season with the Dallas Cowboys and was sidelined the rest of the year due to a sprained knee, eventually placed on injured reserve.
Erving’s health and production are a concern for the Panthers.
The big reason behind Sam Darnold’s lack of success with the New York Jets was below-average offensive line play. With Erving potentially blocking the quarterback’s blindside, his play must be closely monitored.
If Darnold is on the ground a lot due to a poor play, we could see a new tackle at the position if Erving does win the job at training camp.