5 Panthers offseason departures who’ll thrive elsewhere in 2021
By Dean Jones
Zach Kerr – Former Carolina Panthers DT
There wasn’t a lot of financial benefit to releasing Zach Kerr after just one season. So it was one of the more surprising decisions made by the Carolina Panthers this offseason.
The defensive tackle played well from a rotational role in 2020. Kerr also coped well with extra responsibility once Kawann Short’s season came to an abrupt halt after Week 2 thanks to shoulder surgery.
This left many believing that Kerr would have at least some part to play in the final year of his deal. But the Panthers put pay to that notion pretty quickly by cutting the former Delaware star just before the free agency period.
Kerr got a quick move to the San Francisco 49ers, which seems like a good fit for the player providing he can earn some meaningful reps during training camp.
The Niners are expected to have a formidable defensive front with Nick Bosa returning from injury. Kerr will likely settle for a backup role give the strength at their disposal, but the lineman has proven more than capable of filling this sort of position on the depth chart efficiently throughout his career.
Every team needs guys like Kerr. A vibrant and enthusiastic member of the locker room that also gets it done when it matters most on the field.