5 Panthers roster hopefuls who could get cut for waiver wire pickups

Phil Hoskins – Carolina Panthers DT

Seventh-round picks always seem to be fighting a big-time battle. There isn’t much difference between them and undrafted free agents, so it’s a case of providing their worth with a view to earning a longer-term stay with a particular team.

Phil Hoskins has certainly made a difference. The defensive tackle’s progress throughout training camp leaves plenty of reasons to be encouraged, with his production over the first two preseason games something else that shouldn’t be overlooked.

The Carolina Panthers are loaded on the defensive front, which made Hoskins’ task all the more difficult. However, there is every chance he ends up on the 53-man roster as a development project behind the likes of Derrick Brown, DaQuan Jones, Bravvion Roy, and Daviyon Nixon.

It’s because of this strength-in-depth that Hoskins could be sacrificed if he makes the team if another player becomes available within a positional group that isn’t as strong. This is all part of the cutthroat world of the NFL, which many across the league will find out to their cost in the coming days.

Hoskins is also a primary candidate for the practice squad. Although the Panthers would be taking a big risk sticking him on the waiver wire.