What exactly do the Carolina Panthers have at IOL in 2021?
By Dean Jones
The free-agent additions
- Pat Elflein, Cam Erving.
There were more than a few eyebrows raised when the Carolina Panthers signed Pat Elflein and Cam Erving to being free agency. Both veterans haven’t exactly set the world alight over the last few seasons and the jury is well and truly out as to whether they can turn things around in a new environment.
Elflein has the versatility Carolina’s coaching staff loves. He played his rookie year with the Minnesota Vikings before moving over to guard, but his production has regressed with every passing year and even if the Ohio State product does start, he’ll be on a very short leash.
The same also applies to Erving.
His career has been littered with inconsistencies so far, even though it did come with a Super Bowl ring from his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. Erving saw the field for just 279 snaps with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 and didn’t do enough to earn a longer-term commitment.
If Erving fails to make a better go of things in Carolina, his draft bust status will be set in stone.
At least from the outside looking in, this money could have been spent better judging by what we’ve seen from Elflein and Erving during their careers. The Panthers must see something others don’t, but starting them would appear to be a significant risk.
Next. 4 reasons the Carolina Panthers should be on Hard Knocks in 2021. dark
The stakes are high for Elflein, Erving, and the Panthers in 2021. A strong start is crucial, but whether the pair are going to emerge as valuable pieces of the puzzle remains to be seen.