5 first-year Carolina Panthers players who could be gone in 2023
By Dean Jones
Which first-year Carolina Panthers players could be gone during what promises to be an eventful 2023 offseason for the franchise?
There are a large number of crucial decisions awaiting the Carolina Panthers this offseason. They acted relatively swiftly to solve their head coaching riddle with Frank Reich, but the players are still awaiting their respective fates before free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft.
One suspects they’ll be a collective approach rather than giving one man absolute power again. This is something team owner David Tepper cannot do after relinquishing control to Matt Rhule, who wasn’t capable or experienced enough to cope with these significant responsibilities.
It’s a big offseason for Scott Fitterer, who was complicit in Rhule’s failings if nothing else. If the general manager cannot put the right foundations in place for Reich, then he could be facing severe job uncertainty this time next year.
That’s for the future. For now, here are five first-year Panthers players who could be gone in 2023.
Player No. 1
Damien Wilson – Carolina Panthers LB
Big changes could be coming to the linebacking corps in the coming months. The Carolina Panthers need stability at the second level after years of trying to put a band-aid fix on Luke Kuechly’s bombshell retirement following the 2019 campaign. There is no better time than now with Frank Reich leading the charge.
One player that’s unlikely to be part of the team’s future is Damien Wilson. The former Super Bowl winner just never fitted in well enough and the cap savings involved with his early release mean he’ll be looking for alternative employment in free agency.