5 Panthers players who could be shocking cuts under new regime in 2023

Yetur Gross-Matos – Carolina Panthers DE

• 2023 cap savings – $1.72 million
• 2022 season stats (through Week 17): 52 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries, 11 total pressures.

The Carolina Panthers need somebody to set the edge opposite of Brian Burns badly. It’s looking as if the answer is most certainly not Yetur Gross-Matos.

The young edge-rusher has not made the impact that is desperately needed following the departure of Haason Reddick in free agency. A decision that probably cost Carolina postseason football in 2022 based on his efforts with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Not only are Gross-Matos’ sacks down from a year ago when he played under half the snaps, but he has also been outplayed by reserve edge Marquis Haynes. A bitterly disappointing turn of events for someone the Panthers took No. 38 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Haynes has five sacks on the season from 39 percent of the team’s snaps on defense. Compare that to Gross-Matos’ 2.5 quarterback takedowns on 72% of defensive snaps played.

Not only this, but Haynes also has more total pressures and even scored a touchdown for the Panthers this season.

Even though cutting Haynes would save more towards the cap than removing Gross-Matos, the production and lack of impact made by the former Penn State stud in comparison to a player with much fewer snaps would make this an easy decision for Carolina to make.