Which Carolina Panthers players could be cut ahead of time during what promises to be another eventful offseason in 2023?
Although the Carolina Panthers are still fighting with maximum effort, it’s hard not to cast half an eye on what’s going to be yet another dramatic offseason for the franchise. Many big changes are set to take place once again regardless of whether interim head coach Steve Wilks wins the job long-term or not as the team looks to finally form the foundations for a successful future after Matt Rhule’s cataclysmic reign.
Wilks is gaining significant momentum after galvanizing the Panthers to three wins. But the track record of interim head coaches who get permanent deals isn’t great and team owner David Tepper might look further afield in pursuit of finally getting this key appointment right.
Many players are also facing uncertain futures. This is especially evident for those out of contract and with money tight, some additional sacrifices could be made in pursuit of strengthening Carolina’s aspirations next season and beyond.
With that in mind, here are five Panthers players who could be cut ahead of time in 2023.
Player No. 1
Zane Gonzalez – Carolina Panthers K
The NFL is a cutthroat business. Zane Gonzalez’s season-ending injury during the preseason was a bitter blow for the Carolina Panthers and the kicker, who proved highly consistent and well-deserving of the contract extension that came his way.
Gonzalez has watched from the sidelines as Eddy Pineiro’s made the most out of his latest opportunity. Aside from his poor outing at the Atlanta Falcons, he’s been lights out and if those in power feel like this is the better option, the former seventh-round selection could be cut with a cap saving of $1.8 million.
Pat Elflein – Carolina Panthers C
Considering how bleak things looked for Pat Elflein before training camp, what transpired before his unfortunate injury represents something of a career renaissance. The Carolina Panthers started the former third-round pick at the center position despite signing Bradley Bozeman in free agency, which brought a huge upturn in production from a player whose career prospects were hanging in the balance.
Elflein was consistent during his time on the field, giving up just one sack and conceding no penalties from 338 snaps. However, his campaign was cut short and Bozeman’s impact since moving up the depth chart has taken one of the league’s most improved offensive lines to even greater heights.
This leaves the Panthers in a predicament regarding Elflein. He’d be a pretty solid backup to Bozeman providing the Alabama product is extended, but with a cap hit of $7.55 million on the final year of his deal, the financial implications cannot be ignored.
It’s taken Carolina a long time to achieve consistency across its protection. Therefore, it is vital continuity with their current unit continues, so extending Bozeman should be among the team’s top priorities next spring.
Elflein’s early release will come with a dead-cap figure of $2.8 million and a saving of $4.75 million. Something that is almost guaranteed all things considered.
Damien Wilson – Carolina Panthers LB
Finding consistency at the middle linebacker position has been almost non-existent for the Carolina Panthers since the days of Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis. Damien Wilson was the latest to fill the void after his arrival in free agency, but this didn’t come with the production many hoped from a player that attained 106 tackles with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021.
Wilson’s struggled in coverage, which isn’t unexpected based on his career so far. There are times when he’s flashed in the run game and when creating pressure, but it’s not happening frequently enough and this is a major problem.
The Panthers have run out of patience with Wilson, it seems. The one-time Super Bowl winner with the Kansas City Chiefs hasn’t seen the defensive rotation during the three games before Carolina’s bye week, which is a damning indictment of how his performance levels are being perceived.
With a $4.68 million salary cap hit next season, it’s highly likely Wilson’s stay in Carolina will be a short-term arrangement. This comes with an eye-catching cap saving of $3.61 million and a dead-cap figure of $1.07 million, which represents a probable outcome when one considers the financial constraints facing the organization in 2023.
Had Wilson cemented his starting spot and provided an upgrade, things might be different. Unfortunately for the Minnesota product, that is not the case and when the time comes, this should be an easy call to make.
Shaq Thompson – Carolina Panthers LB
As stated previously, the Carolina Panthers are in the midst of more financial troubles. According to Spotrac, they are currently $8.3 million over the cap in 2023, which is thanks in no small part to the $28 million in dead-cap stemming from the Christian McCaffrey and Robbie Anderson trades.
This almost guarantees some difficult decisions are upcoming. Not only regarding which players to keep around but also the status of established figures within the locker room.
One name, in particular, is Shaq Thompson. The outside linebacker is one of the team’s longest-serving players and a supreme leader within the locker room, with his recent performances on the field also coming in for significant praise after an indifferent start.
However, everything isn’t always that simple. Thompson is due a whopping $24.46 million in the final year of his deal, which is a huge sum considering his ability no matter which way one looks at it.
Thompson’s influence cannot be understated on or off the gridiron. But it’s hard to deny that the $13.18 million in cap savings involved with his early release couldn’t be better spent elsewhere.
The former first-round pick out of Washington is putting together another nice campaign. However, when looking at all the contracts Carolina has, this is undoubtedly one that provides the most financial flexibility.
Marquis Haynes – Carolina Panthers DE
Finding consistent pass-rushing opposite stud defensive end Brian Burns has been difficult for the Carolina Panthers this season. Yetur Gross-Matos is improving against the run, but there’s no consistency causing havoc in opposing backfields and it would be a surprise if those in power didn’t strengthen this area in free agency or the 2023 NFL Draft.
The performances of Marquis Haynes are more encouraging. He’s once again putting up decent numbers from a key rotational role, which has led many to call for the Ole Miss product to be introduced into the starting lineup down the stretch.
Haynes flashes moments of brilliance. His pass-rushing repertoire is improving with every passing year and although there is work to do on run-stopping, this is the sort of player every team looking to contend needs on their depth chart.
Money trumps all in the NFL. Something the Panthers don’t have much of unless some contract restructures or early releases occur ahead of free agency.
This would be a little harsh on Haynes, there’s no doubt about it. However, his release comes with a dead-cap figure of just $500,000 and a cap saving of $3 million, which will provoke a discussion if nothing else.
Of all the options on this list, Haynes is the least likely to depart. And this scenario would raise more than a few eyebrows given his proven production from lower down the pecking order.