Undrafted free agents have been an impressive part of the Carolina Panthers' progression in recent seasons. When he was promoted to general manager, Dan Morgan needed to raise the floor of the roster, which had been decimated by the previous regime's lackluster moves.
Undrafted free agency became Morgan's playground. The first big standout was safety Demani Richardson, as he quickly became a fan favorite during training camp. That was until former Holy Cross standout Jalen Coker quickly rose to prominence, a role he still holds today as one of quarterback Bryce Young's top pass-catchers.
Other names like linebacker Bam Martin-Scott and kicker Ryan Fitzgerald have made impacts in their own way. Yet, one continues to stand out from last season, and had it not been for a season-ending injury, could have been the talk of the town as a top defender heading into 2026.
Carolina Panthers could have even more to come from Corey Thornton in Year 2
Last year, cornerback Quincy Riley was drafted by the New Orleans Saints out of the Louisville Cardinals. However, his college teammate Corey Thornton went undrafted but shone in the preseason for the Panthers defense, earning a clear-cut spot on the 53-man roster.
It wasn't until halfway through the regular season that Thornton began to play a bigger role, specifically at nickel cornerback. His size and closing speed were impressive to watch, and he made impressive stops on the perimeter against the run and blew up screens as well.
Unfortunately, just as Thornton was finding his groove and earning himself a key role for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, he broke his leg on Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers, bringing his momentum to a halt in heartbreaking fashion.
That could've been the nail in the coffin for any opportunity Thornton had with the team for this upcoming season. However, that might not be the case.
The Panthers drafted perimeter cornerback Will Lee III in the fourth round, with no new additions to the nickel role. If anything, this shows they have confidence in Thornton's ability not only to compete for the starting job but to cement it before Week 1.
Carolina plays in a division with size and athleticism at tight end and slot receiver, whether that be Kyle Pitts Sr., Drake London, Cade Otton, or Juwan Johnson. Evero needs more size to compete against these playmakers, and Chau Smith-Wade was not a fit to handle those responsibilities. If it weren't for Thornton's injury, he was likely to be benched.
While fans may have wanted a more proven asset at nickel, Thornton has seemingly earned the trust of Evero and Jonathan Cooley. That will be key when offseason training activities begin, and the player has been honing his craft with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson Sr. away from the team.
If it works out for Thornton at nickel, Morgan has landed yet another gem from undrafted free agency. Let's hope the correct progression arrives.
Add us as a preferred source on Google