The Carolina Panthers weren't just trimming their roster after the final preseason game against the Houston Texans. General manager Dan Morgan was adding to it with outside assistance.
Netflix and The Ringer insider Tom Pelissero, which was later confirmed by other beat writers, revealed that the Panthers were signing linebacker Bobby Okereke to a one-year deal. This is another proven veteran to pair with fellow free-agent signing Devin Lloyd, giving defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero another useful, experienced presence to rely on.
And inevitably, this will have a ripple effect.
Carolina Panthers signing Bobby Okereke is a damning indictment on LB2 battle
The Panthers were running a LB2 competition between Trevin Wallace and Claudin Cherelus this offseason. It has gone on for most of the summer, but neither player managed to separate themselves effectively enough. This was all Morgan needed to see, and he wasted no time in bringing Okereke once Carolina's warm-up slate concluded.
Carolina had a decision to make. Morgan wasn't going to let sentiment influence his decision. He thought Okereke could provide an upgrade, and he didn't blink.
It's disappointing for Wallace and Cherelus, who've been fighting hard throughout the summer to gain the upper hand. Now, they will be confined to backup roles if Okereke can transition well over the next couple of weeks before Carolina's critical regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears.
But if either had done enough to stand out, Morgan wouldn't have needed to take drastic action.
Okereke looked a little off the pace at times last season, but he still managed to get 143 tackles. That's not the complete measuring stick, of course, but it speaks to his ability to get around the action. He processes things well, and with Lloyd alongside him, this could potentially become a prolific tandem within Evero's 3-4 system.
Carolina Panthers needed to find an upgrade alongside Devin Lloyd, and Bobby Okereke provides it
Wallace was Morgan's pick at No. 72 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He saw something in him that others didn't, but the Kentucky product hasn't repaid this faith yet. And if Okereke hits the ground running, the third-year pro will be a rotational presence who could potentially make a difference on special teams.
Not what the player or Morgan had in mind. But at least Carolina's front-office leader had the self-awareness to see this situation for what it was and react accordingly.
This is all part of the NFL's brutal nature at this time of year.
It's a setback for Wallace. For Cherelus, it could be much more. But the only thing that mattered to Morgan was making the Panthers better before their NFC South title defense.
If that meant ruffling some feathers, even with a player Morgan drafted just two years ago, it's a small price to pay.
Okereke will get a crash course over the next two weeks. He's got experience with a 3-4 system from his time with the New York Giants, which will help. And the former Stanford enforcer was obviously in good enough shape for Morgan to take the plunge.
Hopes are high. But for Wallace and Cherelus, they just couldn't stand out enough to turn the tide in their favor.
And sometimes, it's a tough business.
Add us as a preferred source on Google