5 players from 2018 Cardinals who could re-join Steve Wilks on the Panthers
By Dean Jones
Which former Arizona Cardinals players could reunite with Steve Wilks after he returned to the Carolina Panthers for a second spell?
The Carolina Panthers made another shrewd addition to their coaching staff with the appointment of Steve Wilks as their new defensive pass game coordinator/secondary coach. This is the second stint for the respected figure with the organization, who is highly regarded in league circles and most recently held the defensive coordinator position at Missouri.
This is yet another strong indicator that Matt Rhule is intent on going with staff that has a wealth of NFL experience. Something that was relatively lacking over his first two years on the Panthers.
Wilks also spent one season as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, where he was given a rough deal from the outside looking in. Players spoke glowingly of his man-management and ability to lead, which is sure to serve him well in pursuit of developing the likes of Jaycee Horn, C.J. Henderson, Stantley Thomas-Oliver III, and Keith Taylor Jr. in 2022.
On this topic, we picked out five former Wilks players in Arizona that the Panthers could potentially target depending on how much input the returning coach has on personnel moves.
Player No. 1
Mason Cole – C
It’s no secret that the Carolina Panthers need some real help on their offensive line this offseason. The unit crumbled in the face of some extreme pressure almost from start to finish and with Taylor Moton the only player guaranteed a starting spot next time around, there will never be a better time to completely revolutionize this area of the field.
Mason Cole worked with and was drafted by Steve Wilks on the Cardinals in 2018 and spent last season with the Minnesota Vikings. The center gave up two sacks and didn’t concede a penalty from 471 snaps en route to an encouraging 69.7 grade from Pro Football Focus, which is probably an upgrade on anything Carolina has right now.
Acquiring Cole is unlikely to break the bank, which makes him a realistic candidate if Wilks has any say in the matter.