5 big gambles that backfired on the Carolina Panthers in 2021
By Dean Jones
What personnel moves made by the Carolina Panthers backfired in a big way during a hugely disappointing 2021 season?
The time for looking back on the wreckage that became of the Carolina Panthers 2021 season is well underway. There is increased scrutiny into the methods being used by those in power after a torrid campaign that began at 3-0 but saw the team lose 12 of their next 14 games en route to a third-straight five-win year.
Matt Rhule is the man under the microscope. The Panthers showed little to no improvement in Year 2 of his tenure and even though team owner David Tepper is willing to give the former Baylor man another season, it’s clear some drastic changes are needed.
Just how this is going to come about considering Carolina has just $24 million in cap space and no Day 2 draft pick is unclear. But something’s got to give and unless Rhule gets things right, it could cost him his job.
Without further ado, here are four big gambles that backfired on the Panthers in 2021.
Decision No. 1
Carolina Panthers traded Denzel Perryman
Acquiring Denzel Perryman looked to be a shrewd bit of business by the Carolina Panthers. But the coaching staff clearly didn’t hit it off with the linebacker and he was shipped off to the Las Vegas Raiders without playing a competitive down.
This came back to haunt them. Carolina’s starter on the interior, Jermaine Carter, was inconsistent at best while Perryman was an absolute revelation in Las Vegas en route to a deserved Pro Bowl selection.
Whether the Panthers regret this or not is debatable. But with Carter out of contract this spring, they probably should.