4 forgotten former Carolina Panthers players that are still in the NFL

Corn Elder – Former Carolina Panthers CB

To say it’s been a rollercoaster for Corn Elder since entering the league would be something of an understatement. The cornerback worked exceptionally hard on the practice squad and whenever roster chances came his way over his first two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, which brought about the first real chance for starting reps in 2020 thanks to a series of disappointing injuries and the departure of James Bradberry.

Elder was tasked with manning the slot prominently, racking up 40 tackles, three passes defended, and a forced fumble. The former Miami star gave up 68.1 percent of balls thrown his way, conceded a 91.0 passer rating when targeted, and managed to attain a respectable 68.5 grade from Pro Football Focus for good measure.

This was not enough to earn Elder a new contract. But he was not out of work for long thanks to a short-term deal from the Detroit Lions.

If Elder was hoping to build on this newfound momentum, he was out of luck. The corner was released without playing a down and subsequently re-joined Ron Rivera on the Washington Commanders in October, making five appearances.

Elder was given a one-year extension in January. So the task now will be firmly establishing himself within the system with a full offseason under his belt.