Chris, we’re 3 weeks till camp. 3 weeks till training camp. We’re almost there. I know like almost there. It’ll be a blink of an eye and it’ll just, it’ll be here. And Chris, I think this is the first time in a long time that we can be pretty confident about what the roster really is gonna look like. There are a few position battles, very few, but This roster seems overall pretty set. It’s mostly set. Let’s, hey, you know what, let’s talk about it. Let’s get this sucker started. Get dialed in Panthers fans. Here comes an in-depth look at your team. Exclusive interviews locker room insight. Let’s huddle up for Panthers Playbook. Here are your hosts, Dennis Cox and Chris Lee. Welcome back to another episode of Panthers Playbook. That’s Chris Lee. Dennis Cox here with you. Folks, is there a player out there on the roster? Carolina Panthers roster again, 3 weeks till training camp that you might think be in jeopardy of, of getting cut, getting released. Maybe it’s uh DJ Johnson. Maybe it’s David Moore. Maybe this Hunter Renfro get traded away. Some people were talking about, well, what’s Jale Cocher gonna be missing on the roster? I think he’s a lot to be on there, Chris. But you and I kind of did a little exercise, kind of worked on it for the last, you know, couple of weeks about just kind of a rough look at the, the Panthers roster going into this upcoming training camp, again, 3 weeks away. And I remember actually talking to a couple of people at mini camp that it It feels like that most of the roster is set and it might really just come down to about 5 spots roughly on the roster. You know, in terms of figuring some things out, I don’t know if they’re really gonna make a ton of outside moves to add guys unlike we saw last season, but it feels like for the most part, there’s probably what decision are you gonna make with this position group? OK, well, that will also impact this other position group as far as how many you’ll take on. And so, uh, I’m excited to talk about it and go through it and see what you think about all this. Obviously, this is all pending guys being healthy, because we all know unfortunately, in sports injuries do happen. So obviously, that can certainly change a lot of things. But again, on paper, assuming everyone’s healthy, for the most part, going into the beginning of the season, this is kind of what we’re looking at. To me, the easiest one was actually probably the offensive side of the ball, like, Bryce Young, Andy Dalton, running back, Chuba Huppert, Rico Daddo, Travis ETN. I don’t have Raheem Blacks here making the team. Tight end, it’s Tommy Trimble, JT Sanders, Mitchell Evans. The one caveat there I could see depending on Tommy Trimble’s back and how he’s recovering from his surgery, do you keep 1/4 tight end as insurance just in case Trimble isn’t ready to start the season because it would kind of stink for the Carolina Panthers to have just two tight ends on the roster going into week one, then. You know, somebody rolls an ankle and, you know, you’re in a game, you’re down to one tight end. So those are all things you have to take into consideration as well. The offensive line, the 9 guys that played last year all come back in my eyes. But then wide receivers is kind of the tricky one for me. And it’s, I think the top guys are set. McMillan, Ligette, Thelan. To me, Coker is a lock to make this team, but then it kind of gets into the Hunter Remfro, Jimmy Horn Junior, David Moore discussion, Chris, and I know you’re probably along the same lines right there. OK, so let’s back up a little bit because I have a few if this, then that. As I was looking at everything and I put down some initial names and I noticed there were some holes. So so my initial roster has 4 running backs. OK, I’m gonna tell you why. Um, obviously Cuba and Rico, and you’re not gonna spend your 4th round pick on, you know, somebody that you seem to really, really love and cut them, right? So ETN is definitely gonna make it. So, I also put down Raheem Blackshear. Because, um, one, I felt like in other ways, depending on like, you know, the way you decided to construct the rest of the roster. I think you have room for it, and because Raheem Blackshear did so much for you on special teams last year. You’re not bringing him on to tilt the ball behind the line of scrimmage. Maybe he’ll get a couple of carries here and there, maybe there’s a special package for him here and there, but other than that, honestly, I’m not expecting it. He’s there for uh special teams, and so. It made me think last year when the Carolina Panthers had their initial 53, it surprised all of us. They carried 7 wide receivers. They also carried Dennis, I’m sorry, 10 offensive linemen. I think I heard you say 9. 9. And so there’s room based off of all of that, depending on what you want to do uh for that. So I have 4 running backs, I have 9 offensive linemen, I’m sure our offensive linemen are the same. Equannu, Lewis, Corbett, Hunt, Moton, Nyan, uh, Christensen, May, Zavala. um. And then here, For tight ends. I feel like Trimble probably starts the season on PUP. So this is where I have tight ends for sure 3, but I have question marks on the 3rd spot because is that gonna be Trimble or is he gonna be on PUP? And do you have somebody currently on the roster that can fit that spot? Or are you gonna have to go shopping for that person, uh, at some point? Maybe there’s a free agent out there that hasn’t already signed. Uh, maybe you can make a trade for somebody’s 6th rounder, uh, that they picked up on their roster or something that you could pick up, or maybe you’re gonna look for a guy, um, after the waiver wire, during a waiver wire situation to bring on your roster as that third spot, see how he fits in, see what happens until, uh, you can get Trimble back, but I for sure have 3 tight ends. Wide receivers for sure if this then that type of situation for me. Uh, so I initially have 6, and I think you You know I was on that Renfro train. I, I, I moved over for you. You, you convinced me, um. David Moore, as long as he has a great camp, as long as he doesn’t like mess things up, that 6th spot is his. I think for sure. You have McMillan, Liget, Thelan Coker, Horn Junior, right? Those are the ones I think you can for sure put in there. And as Horn Junior, you’re going to uh start developing him into that returner, so he’s gonna be working a lot with Raheem Blackshear and also getting some some reps at wide receiver. I think this caveat real quick when it comes to Jimmy Horn Junior dealing with that hamstring injury, how severe is that? You know like, is he gonna be healthy in the in camps? I think that’s something to keep an eye on as well. By the way, I meant I should have put a caveat there that Chris, I actually, on the guys that I was mentioning, those are guys that I feel like are locks. I still have like 4 spots that are open. I had like 4, I had 49 guys. I had 4 spots that are open for that 53, but go on. So for, for me, um, wide receiver is 6 or 7 is depending on what you do for something else, for another position group. We’ll get to that. Uh, in just a second, but right now with what I have here, I have 6. With the idea that it possibly could be 7 because the Panthers did start with 7, on their roster last year. And so, uh, again, by the way, real quick, the 7 was before the waiver claims came through. Jalen Coker was on the initial 53 Waiver claims claim, then they waived him and put him on the practice squad. So keep that in mind, folks, like they didn’t have that just the initial 53 cutdown, not necessarily what they went into week one with, uh, because there’s some space between that. So, um, with room that Hunter Renfro could possibly still make it, because Dave Canalis is a former wide receivers coach. He loves his receivers. He’s already said this is the strongest group on the team. He said that last year, right? He feels that way this year and the defensive line, of course, is pushing him uh for that this year as well, but um unless maybe you can use Hunter Renfro as a trade piece. To get a tight end, if he is staying there throughout camp, I still think there’s a slight chance he makes the roster. It just depends on what happens elsewhere, but that is my offense, uh, so far, you know, with room for movement, uh, with tight ends and wide receiver. I have Renfro making it just based off what I saw on mini camp. Now I know there’s, there’s that chemistry between David Moore and Bryce and obviously Dave Canalas trusts David Moore, obviously going back to even the days in Seattle, but I had Renfro making it, but I, I agree with you in terms of Renfro, if he shows something well in camp and in the preseason games that a team might be hit with an injury bucket wide out, hey, let’s go get that veteran guy that we know we can plug in and play right away. And like you said, hey, we’ve got a, we’ve got like a 4th tight end that we’re willing to move on. You guys need one and you do a one for one swap. I’m OK with that. I’m OK with that. But for me, I think that final spot really comes down to Renfro and David Moore. Yeah, I, it’s, I’ll explain it to you in just a bit when we get there. Um, it does feel like, you know, this is David Moore’s to keep, but also it just, it really just depends on what they decide to do on another position group and and if they decide to keep that 7. If you’re looking at Jimmy Horn Junior as more of a um special teams guy in his first year, then maybe you’re looking at the other 6, which will make room for Renfro and David Moore in that case. That 4th, 5th, 6th receiver, if you’re dressing in a game, you gotta play special teams. Yeah. And we’ve seen Jalen Coker cover kicks as well. Yep. By the way, I even saw it during mini camp. He was out there working with the special. Teams unit. So all things you got to keep in mind. Uh, let’s let’s transition quickly over Chris to the defensive side of the ball. I got 6 interior defensive linemen that a fielder locks. It’s obviously Derrick Brown, it’s Bobby Brown, Ahaw Robinson, Kurk Wharton, Cam Jackson, their 5th round pick from Florida, and it’s the 6 spots coin flip between Shai Tuttle and Jayden Crumdy in Maass. I did 7. And one of the reasons why I did 7 is I looked back at last year. They, they started with 7 last year and the idea of, you know, hey, we saw what happened with Derek Brown last year, he got injured in the first game. Um, we were really bad with stopping the run, really bad, right? Really bad is nice, let’s maybe just in case, whether uh injury bucket hit Brown again or somebody else, let’s at least get our core 7 together. So I went a little bit more liberal with that, and so that’s why I have 7. In that case, Crummody and uh Tuttle make it simply because, like, you have these guys, you have Brown, Tuttle, uh Crummody, Robinson, already familiar with this coaching staff and what goes on here with the Carolina Panthers. So, yeah, you’re part of one of the worst offensive lines ever, but also you can bring some institutional knowledge in. Uh, for next year with the idea that Brown, Brown, and Jackson, um, and Wharton are gonna probably play more than you guys. Yeah, and I think that’s also as well is that the, the role for these guys, like especially like Shai Tuttle, his role is gonna change. He’s not asked to be the starting nose tackle. Now you’re just a rotational piece that might not even dress on game days. There’s a different role and expectation in that regard. But I could, I can 100% see 7 defense and interior defensive linemen making it. I think the edge rusher is pretty. Set in stone as well. DJ Wannam, Pat Jones, Princeley Uma Yellen, Nick Skorton in my 5th spot, I’m going to Mari Barno. Marty Barno’s a really good special teams player. He’s fast, physical, still on a rookie contract. I know he’s dealt with the injuries and stuff, uh, last year, uh, missing a big chunk of time. But, uh, to me, DJ Johnson, I don’t see him making this roster at all. I just really don’t. Unless Barno gets hurt and you want to keep Johnson on his potential special teamer because he’s cheap on a rookie contract. I don’t see him making this team. Dennis. We’re here, we’re here, we’re here. Now, this is my if this then that though, uh, as you see, that’s exactly what I have written down, if you, I don’t know if it comes through, but in parentheses right there, I have DJ Johnson for the Omari Barno spot because Barno is coming off of injury, we just have to see, right? But I, I think Barno is probably a better special teams player. He adds that depth. I feel like he has a bigger upside, um, he just didn’t come in with the same. I don’t wanna say fanfares DJ Johnson, but like the Panthers traded up for DJ Johnson a couple of years ago, so you’re gonna try to make sure that this works out, um, to be determined. So that’s TBD, but, but, but, but. Last year, they started the season with 4 outside linebackers. Yeah. So, if you’re gonna continue to have 4, and let’s say Barno nor Johnson will make it, which I don’t see that happening, that goes back to the wide receiver conversation for me, and then for sure you put in 7. If you feel like everything else is taken care of on special teams, and You don’t need either a Barno or a Johnson. Then maybe you have a room for a 7th wide receiver, so that way you have Renfro and more that can make it. That’s my if this, then that, just simply based off of the numbers from last year. Last year they came in on their initial 53, not what, you know, the first game of the season, 7 wide receivers. 4 outside linebackers, but I right now have 6 wide receivers, 5 outside linebackers with the idea that that could possibly change. I think part of the reason why they had 4 to start last seasons is because you had guys like Wanna and Barno that were hurt. So you know those guys eventually were coming. So that might factor into that a little bit. And also speaking of DJ Wannam. Also had the back flare up a little bit during the offseason as well. So that might necessitate keeping 1/5 guy and you just didn’t have the depth. I mean, you didn’t. I mean, Ekulota was on there and that’s, you know, no shade to him, but like, you know, like you’re getting into the weeds once you start having that, you know, um, I mean have those guys starting on the roster. So I, I would have been OK if Eco Lootto last year was the 5th guy, but eventually like he had to be like the 2nd guy, you know, he was starting to playing games early on last season for the Carolina Panthers. Of-ball linebacker, to me, I’ve got 4 guys, Jozy Jewel, Trevon Wallace, those guys are locked. Christian Roseboom, whom they brought in from the LA Rams and John Ratigan has a special teamer. He was a core 4 special teamer guy last year. I have those 4 as softball, but I do have like a plus 1. Could you add somebody to that group? And I think needing depth is, you need depth at that position for sure because there’s not a whole lot once you get past Tren Wallace. And uh Josie Jewell. We are somewhat aligned on this, but there is a slight difference for me. Jewel Wallace, Roseboom shareless, the reason why, right? Now, Ratigan, amazing on special teams. I do have room for possibly 1/5 but if you have a 5th, that takes away from the DB room at some point. Um, but Ratigan is there for his special team, uh, special teams, if he, they, they do 5, but right now I have 4, which means that Ratigan wouldn’t make it. Uh, so I have Jewel, Wallace, Rose Bloom, Sherrily, and mainly because I don’t wanna throw Shaless out too much. He’s for sure the last one on that list of these guys, but if you end up having the um the again, the injuries um that we had a lot last year. I, who do you trust to come into a game a little bit more? Is it Ratigan or shareless? Like, not, not special teams. I’m talking about playing defensive snaps. Well, not, not a whole lot of faith in either. I, but I’m sorry, yeah, Cherless played a little bit more last year and and maybe just like Trevor Walla, Trevor Wallace was thrown into the fire, so maybe he just comes in a little bit better uh this year because of it. I think that could possibly be the case for somebody like Claude and Sherriless who’s, um, this is his 3rd year out of Alcorn State, right? So that’s why I have him there over John Ratigan with the idea though. That if they do have 5 linebackers, that takes away somebody from the DB room, and we can talk about that right now. OK. Uh, speaking of DBs, I have right now 4 corners that are locked and 4 safeties that are locked, but I feel the caveat of plus 1 for each corner. Jay Horn, Mike Jackson, Shaw Smith Wade, probably Shamar Bartholomew, and I have a plus one in there whether that’s, you know, a Caleb Evans or someone else that they, that they go after. And then safety, it’s Merrick, Richardson, Ransom, Nick Scott, and I’ll throw a plus one in there too, Chris, because after that first group, it’s really, really thin. You said Merrick Ransom, Scott, Richardson? Yeah, states that Trayvon Merrick, Damani Richardson, uh, Lathan Ransom, and Nick Scott. OK, so similar situations for cornerbacks and safeties for me. You see right there, I have 5 next to both and I have and I have the question marks because, because I’m not sure if the 5th person is on the roster. Or if the 5th person they still need to go out there and get. I know that there’s still some free agents out there, there’s still some possibility of them signing some guys uh between now and training camp, or maybe during training camp. You just want to go in there and see what you got. I wanna say as we’re recording this, there’s still 89 guys on the roster, so you still have, you know, room to bring one person on without having to cut anybody else. Um, this is also where, right? We’ve heard talks of, you know, maybe some guys being able to be, um, you know, a little bit versatile. So, are one of the safeties, do you trust them also to play nickel in some packages? Do you trust Shaw Smith Wade uh to sometimes maybe come in and play a little bit of safety in some some packages, depending on what it is. If you feel that way, Then one of those two question marks can possibly go away and uh whether you have 4 safeties and 5 cornerbacks or vice versa, and then that other position goes back to linebacker to where you can bring on John Ratigan and what my plan would be. So that’s, that’s what I’m looking at. It, it really depends on who they sign, who they can possibly get in, or who steps up in training camp. This is that DB room is really where somebody who, uh, you’re just brought on to be a body, you can really probably play yourself onto this roster. There’s no other really positions where you can really play yourself onto the roster, if you’re just one of those extra guys, um, one of the, you know, um. Um, undrafted free agents or one of these, uh, you know, other guys who may be getting your your second chance because you came in from another team. Um, it’s the DB room where you can play yourself on this team if you have a good training camp. Yeah, that’s why I said, you know, at the start of this, I, I was pretty confident about. 48. You know, there’s probably about 5 spots out there, which was like we just mentioned, a safety, a corner, maybe a backup linebacker, wide receiver, running back. It’s really is, we’re talking like 5 spots, but I know Chris, we’re gonna wrap things up here, but it feels like for the first time in a while that We know who the core group of this team is gonna be going into the season. Again, barring any sort of injuries, but we know going in, which is I think is a good thing for this Panthers team going forward, especially with all the continuity on the offensive side of the ball that we have from last year. It’s a good thing. I can also see the negative side of that too, right? Um, while it is a really good thing, you could also say that outside of maybe wide receiver and defensive line. This and I’ll say outside linebacker as well. Maybe, you know, the front office didn’t do a good enough job to bring in people to push other people to where they would have to make harder cuts. Oh no, do I have to cut, you know, Cade Mays or or Josh Nyan or oh my gosh. Is Nick Scott or Damani Richardson even gonna make it? Or if you look on offense, wait a second, I don’t know, we like Trevor E or Travis, whichever one, I get him mixed up. One of the ETNs, one of the ETNs, we like him, we, we drafted him here, but man, this other running back is gonna be really good, maybe we’re gonna have to make a hard decision, um. There’s not a lot of hard decisions to be made here, it’s just depending on, it’s just a few here and there. Like, like I said at the beginning, a few, if this, then that type of situations. So it just it it’s a lot depending on who you bring in, what the health situation is like, who decides to play their way in uh in the DB room. So we’ll have to see. Let’s see in 3 weeks, Chris, we’ll be down there in Charlotte training camp gets underway. Let’s go. I’m excited for the season. It’s hard to believe 3 weeks. Hard to believe 3 weeks already. Like, gosh, it’s, hey, about to be the 4th of July. Oh yeah, we kick off in like 65 days or whatever it is. It’s, it’s with the regular season, wild to think about. But Chris, I’m excited for this upcoming season. I’m looking forward to it and we’ll look forward to seeing you all next week here on Panthers Playbook.
