{"id":223056,"date":"2025-07-20T22:33:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T22:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/223056\/"},"modified":"2025-07-20T22:33:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-20T22:33:10","slug":"panthers-training-camp-preview-are-there-any-hidden-gems-in-the-secondary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/223056\/","title":{"rendered":"Panthers training camp preview: Are there any hidden gems in the secondary?"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the Carolina Panthers<\/a> set to report to training camp<\/a> this week, it’s time to take a look at the lay of the land.<\/p>\n

Which players are sure to make it through the summer and onto the team’s initial 53-man roster? Are there any wild-card candidates who can leave a lasting impression in the coming weeks? And which battles are worth keeping an eye on?<\/p>\n

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Here is our training camp preview for the Panthers’ secondary:<\/p>\n

Locks<\/p>\n

Horn and Jackson, both of whom received new deals<\/a> this offseason, are in line to head the cornerback group once again. Smith-Wade feels like a heavy favorite to join them from the slot following a standout spring.<\/p>\n

Moehrig also got paid\u2014on a three-year, $51 million pact<\/a> out of free agency. His positional versatility, both as a strong and free safety, should prove valuable for a defense that had trouble wrapping up and producing takeaways in 2024.<\/p>\n

Ransom, the second of the team’s two fourth-round picks<\/a> from this year, may be ready to start from Day 1.<\/p>\n

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Likely to make it<\/p>\n

Carolina remains extremely thin at corner behind Horn and Jackson. Bartholomew, pretty much by default, would be the next man up on the outside.<\/p>\n

Richardson, an undrafted free agent from 2024, was a nice little find for the Panthers. He started in five of his seven games, including the final three outings of the campaign.<\/p>\n

On the bubble<\/p>\n

This group features six 2025 undrafted free-agent signees.<\/p>\n

Evans, in fact, is the only player here with actual NFL experience. He’s started in 18 of his 34 contests, one of which came for the Panthers this past season.<\/p>\n

Battle to watch<\/p>\n

Lathan Ransom vs. Demani Richardson<\/p>\n

Carolina addressed one of their starting safety jobs by inking Moehrig to that massive contract. But they haven’t been as emphatic in filling out the other spot.<\/p>\n

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Richardson will be challenged by the fourth-rounder Ransom, a productive three-year starter and national champion from Ohio State University.<\/p>\n

Potential sleeper<\/p>\n

Devonshire, a seventh-round pick of the Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> from the 2024 draft, has some intriguing attributes. The long 5-foot-11, 179-pounder has the chops to play both inside and out, and could factor into Carolina’s plans given their lack of depth in the secondary.<\/p>\n

Follow\u00a0@ThePanthersWire<\/a>\u00a0on Twitter\/X for more Panthers content.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: