5 first-year Carolina Panthers players who could be gone in 2023
By Dean Jones
Cory Littleton – Carolina Panthers LB
As stated previously, it would be a big surprise if significant turnover didn’t transpire within the linebacker room this offseason. Only Frankie Luvu is guaranteed to start the 2023 campaign after taking his starting chance with both hands, so a plan on how to progress this unit should be another high priority for those in power.
One player that faces an uncertain future is Cory Littleton. The free-agent signing from the Las Vegas Raiders flashed moments of quality on the rotation during 15 games – seven of which he started – but whether that’s enough for an extended stay under Frank Reich’s new coaching regime is another matter.
Littleton is a former Pro Bowler that thrives in coverage. His production was pretty decent overall – certainly compared to Damien Wilson and others – which is further reflected in his 72.2 grade from Pro Football Focus as a result of his efforts.
Whether Littleton fancies sticking around as a depth piece is the big question. The one-time Washington college standout might fancy his chances of making a starting lineup elsewhere, which is entirely possible based on his sample size in Carolina.
Ideally, Littleton is another that can stick around on a short-term arrangement. But nobody could say that with any certainty right now.