Who could the Carolina Panthers identify as a potential replacement for veteran cornerback Donte Jackson during the 2024 offseason?
Donte Jackson's six-year career with the Carolina Panthers is coming to an end. Multiple reports suggest those in power are planning to release or trade the defensive back before his $4 million roster bonus is due. They are looking for another team to jump the queue in the hope of getting another late-round pick, but the leverage has been lost after this news became public knowledge.
Jackson was a polarizing figure among Carolina's fanbase. He's had good moments and some troubling times thrown in for good measure. His production was decent overall in 2023. This is also another established starter that must be replaced during a critical upcoming offseason for the new regime.
There is a huge amount of hard work ahead for Dan Morgan, Dave Canales, and Brandt Tilis in the coming weeks. Questions are already being asked about how the new power structure has gone about its business so far - especially with their handling of Brian Burns' contract dispute. Jackson leaves another void on the depth chart and in the locker room that must be replaced effectively.
With this in mind, here are four potential candidates to replace Jackson in 2024.
Carolina Panthers could sign Myles Bryant
There might not be much money to go around for the Carolina Panthers this offseason. That makes it all the more vital to extract maximum value from the resources available. This is exactly why Brandt Tilis is around after moving money extremely effectively during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Myles Bryant might be an underrated option, but he could be a useful addition as the Panthers look to find a replacement for Donte Jackson. The former undrafted free agent out of Washington isn't the biggest at 5-foot-9, but he's an accomplished coverage presence over short-to-intermediate routes. He also has the scope to switch into a safety position should Ejiro Evero transition into a three-safety set when the situation dictates.
Better options are available. Unfortunately, they might not be in Carolina's price range when push comes to shove.
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Carolina Panthers could draft T.J. Tampa
If the Carolina Panthers want to find a long-term replacement for Donte Jackson, going down the draft route represents the best course of action. Not having a first-round pick is going to sting - especially considering how many exceptional prospects are there for the taking early on. But again, the new regime must make the best out of a bad situation.
Other needs could be prioritized before attention turns to the cornerback position. But looking at the current depth options behind Jaycee Horn if Jackson departs as expected, those in power cannot leave it too long. Especially if Troy Hill and C.J. Henderson aren't retained in free agency.
Someone like T.J. Tampa might be what the Panthers are looking for. He's got impressive size and length for the cornerback position. The Iowa State prospect also boasts the versatility to be effective in press coverage or as part of a zone scheme. This will be essential given the demands placed on defensive backs by Ejiro Evero.
There is a need for Tampa to improve his discipline. He can be over-aggressive on occasion, which could be exposed against elite wide receivers who'll punish every mistake at the NFL level. Some refinement in terms of tackling technique would be beneficial, but this looks like an option worth further investigation from Carolina's standpoint on Day 2 of the draft.
Carolina Panthers could sign Kendall Fuller
This is a little on the ambitous side and could be out of the Carolina Panthers' price range. That said, the benefits of acquiring someone with Kendall Fuller's credentials are glaring.
Fuller is a Super Bowl winner from his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. He's spent most of his career on the Washington Commanders. While their defense was nothing short of abysmal against the pass last season, he was one of very few who managed to emerge with credit.
There were times when Fuller struggled, but it was hard for the player to hold his own when all around him crumbled. This became more glaring as the campaign wore on. The Commanders traded Montez Sweat and Chase Young before the deadline, negating any pass rush and leaving the secondary exposed in no uncertain terms.
It wouldn't be surprising to see the Commanders make Fuller an offer to stick around. If he gets the chance to test what promises to be a hot market, the Panthers should throw their hat in the ring. If he gets a better offer from elsewhere, so be it, but trying seems like a good idea as a replacement and perhaps even an upgrade on Donte Jackson.
This will probably be Fuller's last chance at earning a big contract, so acquiring him won't be cheap. However, there are ways to work mutually beneficial contracts - something the Panthers should consider in this scenario.
Carolina Panthers could draft Cam Hart
Anyone who's read my pre-draft assessments or mock drafts up to now knows how high I am on Cam Hart. The Notre Dame prospect is everything one looks for in a modern-day cornerback. He's fast, physical, and extremely aggressive. This is something the Carolina Panthers have lacked from their cornerbacks aside from Jaycee Horn's production when healthy in recent years.
Donte Jackson found it difficult against more physically dominant wide receivers. He wasn't found lacking in terms of effort, but it didn't take long for bigger pass-catchers to get the better of him in single or press coverage more often than not.
Hart would change all that in an instant. He's strong at the point of contact with the short of initial power needed to get wideouts off their routes quickly. While he does lack the elite top-end speed Jackson provides, there's nothing to suggest his set of skills cannot easily translate to prominent starting involvement immediately with a smooth transition.
There's also a lot to like about Hart's ability to assist against the run when required. This was an improved area of Jackson's game under Ejiro Evero's guidance. Whoever the Panthers target as a replacement must have this trait to avoid unnecessary complications.
Hart is expected to go somewhere on Day 2 after a phenomenal pre-draft assessment period up to now. Much will depend on what acquisitions the Panthers make in free agency, but this looks like a tremendous scheme fit and one that could reap long-term rewards.