The Carolina Panthers took another step away from the Matt Rhule era on roster cutdown day. From Saturday to Tuesday, the Panthers trimmed their roster from 90 players to 53. In the process, they cut five players who were drafted by Rhule, the former Carolina coach who was fired midway through last season after a rocky two-plus seasons in Charlotte.
The Panthers parted ways with receiver Shi Smith, a sixth-round pick in 2021 who had 28 catches in two years, as well as an offseason handgun arrest last year. While Carolina is looking for depth at the position behind free agent signees Adam Thielen and DJ Chark, rookie Jonathan Mingo and currently injured Terrace Marshall, the team decided Smith wasn’t the answer, instead trading for Kansas City’s Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who has split time between practice squad and active roster for three NFL teams in the last three seasons. Smith-Marsette was second in the NFL in receiving yards during the preseason. The Panthers opted for him over in-house options Javon Wims, CJ Saunders, Gary Jennings, Josh Vann and Smith, all cut.
The Panthers also cut linebacker Brandon Smith, a fourth-round pick last year who appeared in 12 games before getting injured. Smith was in the running for the backup spot behind Frankie Luvu and Shaq Thompson. The team also brought in former Pro Bowl linebacker to compete for the job, but he was cut as well in favor of Kamu Grugier-Hill, who won the job with an impressive preseason performance.
Two cornerbacks drafted by Rhule were also cut. Stantley Thomas-Oliver was chosen in the seventh round in 2020, while Keith Taylor was a fifth-rounder in 2021. Thomas-Oliver battled injury and played in just 25 games over his three years in the league, including an abbreviated three-game season last year. Taylor had plenty of playing time but didn’t show the production to keep the job. The last straw may have been a 70-yard touchdown by the Lions in the final preseason game on which Taylor was one of the defenders beaten on the score. CJ Henderson, who performed well in the preseason to earn the primary backup job, and Greg Mabin, a journeyman signed after a June tryout, was a surprise choice over the two draft picks to earn the final roster spot.
The Panthers also resolved their right guard position, and 2021 sixth-rounder Deonte Brown was one of the odd men out. Chandler Zavala, a fourth-rounder this year, appears likely to start, at least until Austin Corbett — who was placed on the physically unable to perform list to start the season — is ready to play. Zavala started the last two preseason games following an injury to veteran Cade Mays. Other candidates for the job included veteran Michael Jordan, who played in 22 games for the Panthers over the last two seasons, starting 10. Jordan was cut, along with 31-year-old Justin McCray, signed as a free agent in the offseason.
Another veteran free agent signing over the offseason was cut without playing in a regular season game for the Panthers when the team set its safety position. Eric Rowe, a 30-year-old who can also play cornerback, got the ax as the team kept 2023 fifth-rounder Jammie Robinson.
That leaves the team with the following position breakdowns — keep in mind that surviving cut-down day doesn’t guarantee an opening day roster spot. The team is likely to make more moves while shopping other team’s cuts on the waiver wire.
Quarterback: As expected, the team will go with starter Bryce Young, along with veteran Andy Dalton and former draft pick Matt Corral as backups.
Running back: Miles Sanders has battled injury in the preseason but is expected to be ready to go. He’s joined by holdover Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear, who impressed in the preseason. Spencer Brown, who had a good preseason, was cut.
Receiver: Chark and Marshall are battling injury, so the unit is still full of question marks behind Thielen, Mingo, Smith-Marsette and Laviska Shenault.
Tight end: Hayden Hurst is the No. 1, followed by Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble.
Offensive line: It didn’t have a stellar preseason, but the group of Bradley Bozeman, Brady Christensen, Ikem Ekwonu, Taylor Moton and Zavala will make up the first team. Mays, Cameron Erving and Nash Jensen provide depth. This is an area where the team may still make a move.
Defensive line: Some surprises here — Derrick Brown, Shy Tuttle and DeShawn Williams made the team, as expected, but Raequan Williams — an NFL vet and former Panthers practice squadder — did not. Henry Anderson was placed on IR, opening a spot for former Patriot and USFL player LaBryan Ray. This is another area where the team may continue to shop.
Linebacker: Luvu and Thompson will start, backed up by Grugier-Hill and Chandler Wooten. The team kept this spot thin to keep extra pass rushers.
Outside linebacker/Edge rusher: Brian Burns is a star. Yetur Gross-Matos had a strong preseason to win the job opposite him. The team also signed Justin Houston late in camp and kept Marquis Haynes. DJ Johnson, a 2023 draft pick, and 2022 draft pick Amare Barno remain. Signings at other positions in upcoming days may put Barno or Haynes in jeopardy, however.
Cornerback: Jaycee Horn and Donte Jackson are the starters, but both have had injury scares in the past, so depth is key. Henderson, Mabin and Troy Hill provide depth.
Safety: Jeremy Chinn, Vonn Bell, Sam Franklin and Xavier Woods give the team a deep, reliable group, joined by rookie Robinson.
Specialists: No surprises here as kicker Eddy Pineiro, punter Johnny Hekker and snapper JJ Jansen all return.of the most unselfish moves” he’s seen in his career.
