4 Carolina Panthers players set for smaller roles in 2021
By Dean Jones
Which Carolina Panthers players could be set for a smaller role during the 2021 season?
It’s been an immensely busy offseason period for the Carolina Panthers. Those in power have worked extremely hard to put the right pieces in place to progress in 2021 and at least on paper, this is a roster that might be capable of great things during the upcoming campaign.
Football isn’t played on paper, obviously. Everything needs to come together for the Panthers when competitive action gets underway in Week 1 against the New York Jets. And make no mistake, it is vital Carolina gets off to a strong start to generate the momentum needed for a successful year.
Nobody will know for sure what to expect until the Panthers take the field. Analysts across the country have aired on the side of doom and gloom after consecutive 5-11 seasons, but if the new recruits all leave their mark early and often, improvement should follow.
So much in the way of player recruitment might leave those on the current roster facing the prospect of lesser roles. Here are five individuals who could fall into this category.
Player No. 1
John Miller – Carolina Panthers OG
It remains to be seen whether John Miller does enough to earn a starting job in Week 1. The Panthers brought him back on a one-year deal after some inconsistent performances last time around, which wasn’t the sort of standard anybody expected when the guard arrived from the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency.
Much will obviously depend on how the rookie recruits and free-agent signing impress during training camp. Miller is familiar with the scheme, which is something he can utilize. But there’s no question his production needs to improve moving forward.
Miller was one of the first names on the starting offensive line in 2020. Considering the reinforcements brought in during the offseason, that might not be the case any longer.