Which Carolina Panthers players won't be on the team's 53-man roster after one of the most memorable offseasons in franchise history?
There are no more opportunities to impress. The Carolina Panthers finished their preseason games with another loss against the Detroit Lions, which now means the time to make some difficult decisions has officially arrived for general manager Scott Fitterer, head coach Frank Reich, and others in positions of power.
This is always the toughest part of the process. Crushing dreams isn't the most pleasurable task, but the NFL is a business above all else and the players are fully aware of the potential implications if their performances are not up to the required standard.
Some players will be expecting a call in the coming days. Others are going to be more shocked about their fate - some could even be traded depending on whether there is appropriate interest from elsewhere.
With that in mind, here are 10 Panthers players who won't be on Carolina's final 53-man roster come Week 1.
Michael Jordan - Carolina Panthers OL
We've seen enough of Michael Jordan. The offensive lineman flatters to deceive almost constantly despite getting more opportunities than most, so his presence on the 53-man roster would no doubt anger a large majority of fans who feel that he simply cannot be trusted.
Jordan is a decent enough gap-scheme run blocker. However, his pass protection is nothing sort of abysmal and if the Carolina Panthers had any sense, they would wish him the best for any future endeavors and move on.
Jake Luton - Carolina Panthers QB
Nobody was expecting much from Jake Luton. The Carolina Panthers formed their long-term quarterback plans by trading up to No, 1 overall for Bryce Young, so this was nothing more than a camp body rather than someone who might make a surprising push to make the 53-man roster.
Luton is a decent candidate for the practice squad. This is dependent on what the Panthers do with Matt Corral, who could be traded or even released entirely after just one season with the franchise.
Herb Miller - Carolina Panthers CB
The cornerback position is something of a concern. This preseason has exposed the potential depth flaws within the room if one of the bigger names goes down with an injury, which is entirely possible when one takes recent history around the likes of Jaycee Horn and Donte Jackson into account.
Despite this, it's hard to envisage a scenario where Herb Miller is kept around. When push comes to shove, the former Florida Atlantic standout just hasn't done enough.
Bumper Pool - Carolina Panthers LB
In fairness to Bumper Pool, the linebacker came up with a couple of nice plays late on during Carolina's preseason finale against the Detroit Lions. But the full body of work this summer coupled with the Panthers' switching to a 3-4 base scheme under Ejiro Evero means his chances of avoiding the dreaded cut appear remote.
That said, there might be some value in keeping Pool on the practice squad if he clears waivers. This would allow the coaching staff additional time to assess and develop the one-time Arkansas thumper into a potential contributor.
Camerun Peoples - Carolina Panthers RB
It took undrafted free agent Camerun Peoples all offseason to earn involvement on the offensive rotation. When a big opportunity befell the running back against the Detroit Lions, he left the worst first impression imaginable.
Peoples fumbled on his first official NFL carry and dropped a very catchable ball that could have resulted in a big gain. This likely sealed his fate with the Carolina Panthers, which is extremely disappointing from the player's point of view.
Brandon Smith - Carolina Panthers LB
This would be one of the tougher cuts considering Brandon Smith's potential upside and how he flashed as a rookie under Steve Wilks. But this time of year is always a numbers game and few would deny that the likes of Chandler Wooten and Kamu Grugier-Hill have outperformed the former fourth-rounder this summer.
The Panthers might make some calls to see if they can flip Smith for a pick swap or seventh-rounder. If not, then the chances of the athletically gifted linebacker being cut loose entirely are high.
Rejzohn Wright - Carolina Panthers CB
Plenty of intrigue surrounded Rejzohn Wright's offseason arrival thanks in no small part to his appearance in Last Chance U. But the cornerback got injured early in the preparation period and was unable to truly force his way into the team's plans.
Again, Wright looks like a primary candidate for Carolina's practice squad if he makes it past waivers. Looking at the bigger picture, that wouldn't be the worst news for a defensive back that does have some promise.
Deonte Brown - Carolina Panthers OL
Deonte Brown is another project the Carolina Panthers might give up on this offseason. The mammoth interior offensive lineman lost a ton of weight before camp to give himself a fighting chance of making the team, which does look unlikely despite the former Alabama star playing well enough.
Whether the Panthers allocate a place on the practice squad for Brown is up for debate. But it only highlights the fact he was preferred to Trey Smith during the 2021 NFL Draft - a formidable starter and Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Spencer Brown - Carolina Panthers RB
This is no slight on Spencer Brown from a performance standpoint. The running back's given a tremendous account of himself when carries came his way during the preseason, but it's unlikely the Panthers take four running backs onto the roster and this leaves him on the outside looking in.
Brown's put out some great tape this offseason and might get picked up by another team looking to solidify their running back depth. If not, then one would expect the player to be a lock for Carolina's practice squad once again.
LaBryan Ray - Carolina Panthers DL
LaBryan Ray was a late arrival to the Panthers and with such a limited sample size compared to others, might be surplus to requirements. The defensive lineman does have some intriguing athletic attributes, but others are clearly above him in the pecking order currently and his production versus the Detroit Lions did nothing to change this fact.
Whether Bryan's displayed enough to warrant consideration for the practice squad is anyone's guess. But it cannot be completely dismissed looking at the options available.