4 winners and losers from the Carolina Panthers pre-roster cut trades

Andre Roberts – Carolina Panthers WR/KR

Trading for Laviska Shenault Jr. is another calculated gamble by the Carolina Panthers. One they hope can similarly bear fruit to what they expect from cornerback C.J. Henderson in 2022.

Of course, nothing is guaranteed. And there does appear to be plenty ahead of Shenault in the pecking order when it comes to carries or targets during the upcoming campaign.

One player who’s impacted more than most where the trade is concerned arrived this offseason and might not play a competitive down for the Panthers. Andre Roberts is an All-Pro kick returner with a lot to offer, but there is now a realistic chance he’s cut when the time comes.

Roberts just looks like the odd man out despite his proven credentials. His ability in the passing game never took off during his career, so the Panthers could allocate Shi Smith the kick returner responsibilities after the South Carolina product made serious strides this summer.

Smith has come of age after taking the bull by the horns in the face of adversity. This looks set to provide the multi-purpose weapon with a prominent role next season, which has the scope to leave Roberts on the outside looking in.

Cutting Roberts without playing a regular season snap will cost the Panthers $200,000 in dead-cap money, which represents a saving of $1.55 million. A possibility that’s increased thanks to Shenault’s arrival.