5 former Carolina Panthers draft picks who could be done in the NFL

Rashaan Gaulden – Former Carolina Panthers DB

There was an immense sense of intrigue surrounding what Rashaan Gaulden could potentially bring to the Carolina Panthers. The gifted defensive back enjoyed a prolific college career at Tennessee and although there were some concerns about his in-game speed, those in power at the time felt he was well worth the risk at No. 85 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Players at the position always take time settling in. Coming up against dominant wideouts on a weekly basis is a significant adjustment unless a certain individual boasts elite capabilities and it was clear from early on that Gaulden was not in this category by any stretch.

Gaulden struggled on a rotational basis and failed to make the necessary impression in Carolina. He lasted just 24 games before the player was cut in 2019.

The New York Giants snapped up Gaulden quickly onto their practice squad. But this didn’t amount to anything more than the player suiting up just once before he was moved on entirely.

In fairness to Gaulden, he did get another chance to revive his career with the Las Vegas Raiders, who were impressed enough to offer him a reserve/futures contract in 2020. Sadly, they cut him loose in 2021 and he has not been seen in the league since.

Whether Gaulden comes back or not is a moot point for the Panthers right now. Considering the supposed upside, this was a major swing and a miss by the front office.