4 Carolina Panthers players who are next up for megabucks deals

Jeremy Chinn – Carolina Panthers S

There was talk of Jeremy Chinn potentially being involved in the Deshaun Watson trade, which thankfully didn’t pan out as the Carolina Panthers hoped. Giving up so many picks and key defensive pieces was a monumental risk considering the controversy enveloping the quarterback and even though they are still missing a consistent presence under center, there appear to be very few other holes that need filling.

Chinn has taken the NFL by storm since the Panthers traded up to take him in the second round of the 2020 draft. He is a dynamic playmaker that has tremendous instincts, but his best position remains a hot topic of debate and something Carolina has to figure out sooner rather than later.

Regardless of whether Chinn occupies a safety spot or comes down to the second level, the do-it-all defender is always going to make a difference. If the Southern Illinois product progresses his influence further in 2022, then the Panthers can feel confident in giving him a deserved pay rise at some stage.

Chinn is heading into the penultimate year of his contract and will count just $1.42 million against the salary cap next season. This increases slightly to $1.66 million in 2023, but it’s pretty clear that the player has vastly outperformed this contract already.

The Panthers will be relying heavily on Chinn wherever he lines up. Players with his skills and versatility are hard to find, so providing there is no steep regression then a new deal could come as soon as next year.