5 Carolina Panthers players who could become breakout stars in 2022
By Brian Emory
Yetur Gross-Matos – Carolina Panthers DL
If fans weren’t pushing the panic button on Yetur Gross-Matos by late November, they had to be getting close. After a forgettable rookie season, the former second-round pick was mainly a non-factor through the first three-quarters of the 2021 campaign.
Luckily for Gross-Matos, he was able to finish the season on a high note. On December 19, the defensive lineman enjoyed his best game as a professional, racking up five tackles and 2.5 sacks in a matchup with the Buffalo Bills.
For the season as a whole, Gross-Matos finished with 28 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
While everyone involved would like to see the Penn State product get to the quarterback more frequently, the low sack totals don’t quite tell the full story for Gross-Matos. Pro Football Focus’ ratings are far from a smoking gun, but he finished the season as their 62nd best edge rusher with a score of 63.9.
Interestingly enough, Gross-Matos’ score ranked him 16 spots higher than teammate Brian Burns, who was selected to the Pro Bowl. This is certainly not to suggest that he is a more impactful edge, but the metrics can certainly present the argument that perhaps the former Nittany Lion was more impactful in his second year than what the box scores showed.
The clock is still ticking for Gross-Matos. As he enters his third year, the expiration date on his rookie deal is quickly approaching.
If Gross-Matos wants to earn a second deal with the team, his production will have to begin climbing. Considering the team’s dismal return on second-round picks historically, it would be frustrating if he becomes yet another early draftee that doesn’t stick around past his rookie contract.
Gross-Matos should see a significant role on Carolina’s defensive front next year. Fellow defensive linemen Haason Reddick and DaQuan Jones are set to hit free agency. The team could also save nearly $3 million towards the salary cap if they cut Morgan Fox, which could become a tempting option considering their current situation in regards to the salary cap.
Regardless of how you slice it, the squad probably won’t enjoy quite as much depth on the defensive front next year. This should correlate to a higher snap count for Gross-Matos.
One more interesting development to follow will be the way in which defensive coordinator Phil Snow deploys Gross-Matos. He’s still listed as an edge, but Gross-Matos also lined up as a three-technique during his breakout performance in Buffalo.
Perhaps the newfound versatility in Gross-Matos will allow the team to finally find his ideal role next season, which could create the perfect climate for a breakout year.