The Carolina Panthers had some tough decisions to make before confirming their initial 53-man roster. General manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales could still have more moves to make, but they got a good sense of where this squad is throughout an encouraging summer.
As expected, Morgan didn't take previous reputations into consideration. Everyone had a clean slate, and their place needed to be earned. This meant there were a few surprises along the way, and even though the Panthers are also dealing with some injury problems, the squad looks in pretty good shape overall.
Not everyone came out on the other end smiling. With this in mind, here are four winners and two losers from the Panthers' roster cutdown choices before the new campaign.
Winners and losers from the Carolina Panthers' difficult 53-man roster choices
Winner: A.J. Dillon, RB
The Panthers gave A.J. Dillon a chance to make the team this offseason, signing him to a one-year deal in free agency. He was buried behind Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks, and Trevor Etienne on the running back depth chart, but the veteran showed tremendous resolve to fight back in the face of adversity.
Dillon flashed immense promise in the preseason. He's taken to Carolina well, becoming an instant fan favorite. And he is more than deserving of his place.
Loser: Trevin Wallace, LB
The signs were not especially promising for linebacker Trevin Wallace. Carolina placed him in a competition with Claudin Cherelus for the LB2 spot, and the recent signing of Bobby Okereke only diminished his hopes further.
Not many thought Wallace's roster spot was under threat, but Cherelus' value on special teams mattered more. This was a deeply disappointing development for the 2024 third-round selection, but he got a fresh start quickly after the New York Jets claimed him off waivers.
Winner: TeRah Edwards, DL
Morgan is not a man who sits still. He strikes with conviction when suitable opportunities arise, and this was once again evident with the trade for defensive lineman TeRah Edwards.
The Los Angeles Chargers deemed Edwards surplus to requirements. Morgan saw something in the player that could be useful, sending a 2028 sixth-round pick to the AFC West club to jump the queue. And looking at the depth on Ejiro Evero's defensive front, he's got the chance to feature heavily with a smooth transition.
Winner: Albert Reese IV, OT
Finding a route onto the roster was a difficult proposition for undrafted rookie offensive tackle Albert Reese IV. He's a physical force, but he was starting from the bottom.
With Taylor Moton and Ikem Ekwonu out of action, there was an opening for someone else to step up and earn their spot. Aside from an indifferent showing in Carolina's preseason finale, Reese managed to separate himself from other depth options to deservedly secure a roster spot.
Loser: Chandler Zavala, OL
There were groans among the fan base when Chandler Zavala's name was on the initial 53-man roster. His preseason performances suggested a lack of progress, so the reprieve was surprising to almost everyone.
However, things can change quickly at this time of year. The Panthers picked up Corey Bullock off the waiver wire, and Zavala was the one to make way. He may get a place on the practice squad, but this might be a good time to part ways entirely.
Winner: Chau Smith-Wade, CB
It was a make-or-break summer for third-year cornerback Chau Smith-Wade. The Panthers were trying to find ways to keep him on the field, but the strong start to preparations from Corey Thornton left his aspirations hanging in the balance.
This provoked a positive response from Smith-Wade. He grew in stature as the summer went on, surpassing Thornton as the starting nickel cornerback. The undrafted free agent was waived, though he was signed back to the practice squad.
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