3 winners and 3 losers from the Carolina Panthers initial 53-man roster
By Jason Huber
Rashaan Melvin – Former Carolina Panthers CB
Seven-year NFL veteran cornerback Rashaan Melvin was arguably one of the more shocking cuts made by the Carolina Panthers this week. He signed a one-year deal with the team in March.
With the Panthers relatively young in the defensive backs room, Melvin was one of the lone veterans. With his release, a message was sent that Carolina is going young at the position, at least until offseason addition A.J. Bouye returns from a two-game suspension.
Not including Bouye, who will lead to another cut when he returns, the Panthers are going with Jaycee Horn, Donte Jackson, Keith Taylor, Stantley Thomas-Oliver III, and perhaps even versatile defensive back Myles Hartsfield at corner heading into the 2021 season.
Jackson is the most experienced in the group and he still has to prove he can stay healthy.
Melvin wasn’t claimed by any team, so if Carolina finds themselves needing an emergency cornerback at any point in the season and he’s still available, he could potentially receive a call after he was brought back onto the practice squad and subsequently released to make room for quarterback James Morgan from the New York Jets.
As of right now, he was just the unfortunate odd man out.