7 Carolina Panthers players who could be gone after the 2021 season
By Dean Jones
Jermaine Carter – Carolina Panthers LB
This is a huge season for Jermaine Carter. The linebacker managed to get himself in Matt Rhule’s good books with some superb performances down the stretch, but it’s important he backs this up with even more in the way of consistency next season.
Carter and Rhule didn’t get off to the best of starts after an obvious personality clash between the two. This resulted in the former fifth-round pick seeing little of the field until Week 9, thanks in no small part to the dismal efforts of free-agent signing Tahir Whitehead.
His presence at the second level solidified an area that struggled in the immediate aftermath of Luke Kuechly’s shock retirement. Carter should get another chance to make a starting position his own next season as an outside linebacker after Denzel Perryman was brought in from the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency to man the interior.
It’s going to be interesting to watch Carter and how he influences proceedings in 2021. There is an abundance of talent on Carolina’s front seven, which should give him plenty of space to make plays in the final year of his deal.
Another solid campaign from the player could put him in a strong position when he heads to the bargaining table next spring. But the Panthers have plenty of influential members of the roster looking to get paid in the not-too-distant future.