Carolina Panthers Roster Projection

[Jeremy Igo]

As always, throughout OTA's and through the preseason I will be providing a look into what the Carolina Panthers roster may look like. 

The roster projection will be adjusted according to performance and snap counts. 

Here is my initial roster projection for the 2016 Carolina Panthers

 

2016 Panthers Roster Projection

 

OFFENSE 25

Quarterback (3)

Cam Newton

Derek Anderson

Joe Webb

 

Tight End (3)

Greg Olsen

Ed Dickson

Beau Sandland

 

Note: The Panthers have signed a plethora of tight ends, trying to find an eventual replacement for Dickson. Sandland is it. They do not, however, have the luxury of keeping four tight ends when depth is needed elsewhere. 

Wide Receiver (5)

Kelvin Benjamin

Devin Funchess

Ted Ginn

Stephen Hill

Philly Brown

 

Note: Only 5 receivers are kept as the depth here is outstanding compared to other positions. This unit is 1000% improved over the unit only two seasons ago. Stephen Hill is the x-factor here with both size and speed. The Panthers remain convinced of his potential.

 

Running Back (3)

Jonathan Stewart

Cameron Artis-Payne

Brandon Wegher

 

Note: The Panthers can no longer keep four running backs this season. Fozzy Whitaker is the odd man out here, Brandon Wegher stays as the younger player with more upside. 

 

Full Back (1)

Mike Tolbert

 

Offensive Line (10)

Michael Oher

Mike Remmers

Daryl Williams

Trai Turner

Andrew Norwell

Ryan Kalil

Chris Scott

Gino Gradkowski

David Foucault

(Insert Free Agent Here)

Note: Yeah, the free agent deal is a bit of a cop out on my part, but I just don’t see any other way around it. The Panthers are very very thin at offensive tackle currently, and the roster as it reads today is filled out with practice squad players. Look for an OL signing before the season starts. 

Defense (25)

 

Defensive Line (9)

Kony Ealy

Charles Johnson

Star Lotulelei

Kawann Short

Vernon Butler

Paul Soliai

Mario Addison

Wes Horton

Ryan Delaire

 

Linebacker (6)

Thomas Davis

Luke Kuechly

Shaq Thompson

AJ Klein

David Mayo

Jeremy Cash

Note: How does Cash make the team at his small size? By replacing LB Ben Jacobs as a special teams ace. 

Cahnuh (5)

Bene Benwikere

James Bradberry

Daryl Worley

Zack Sanchez

Lou Young

Note: I just do not see the Panthers signing a veteran cahnuh of note. They would not have cut Boykin if that was in the cards. The Panthers like Lou Young very much. Could be a nice season for him. 

 

Safety (5)

Kurt Coleman

Tre Boston

Dean Marlowe

Colin Jones

Marcus Ball

 

Note: Colin Jones has shown he can drop down and be a buffalo nickel when needed, so he counts as both a safety and cahnuh spot as an x-factor. Add in his special teams contributions and he is a very valuable player.

Special Teams (3)

Graham Gano

Swayze Waters

JJ Jansen

 

So there you have it, my initial 2016 Carolina Panthers Roster Prediction. Well liked players such as Keyarris Garrett and Damiere Byrd are by no means out of the picture, but as of today they have work to do if they plan on making the team. This should make for great training camp competition. 

Remember, if you disagree you cannot simply add in a player without telling me who you would take off. Many folks like to do that and pretend there is no player limit. 

 

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[Nick_81]

Solid roster to get started with.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come on training camp!

[jdpanther5]

I'm expecting an OT signing as well, but I think it'd be at the expense of Foucault. Not sure I see him hanging around as a 5th OT. Extra spot would go to a TE that can block.

[Squirrel]

5 safeties?

[Jeremy Igo]

3 hours ago, jdpanther5 said:

I'm expecting an OT signing as well, but I think it'd be at the expense of Foucault. Not sure I see him hanging around as a 5th OT. Extra spot would go to a TE that can block.

Could be. I mean, look at the Panthers current offensive line roster and pick 10 guys you definitely want to keep. 

It ain't easy. 

[Jeremy Igo]

3 hours ago, Squirrel said:

5 safeties?

Colin Jones counts as a safety/nickel as noted. 

 

Other than that, very very thin, depth needed. 

[jdpanther5]

1 minute ago, Squirrel said:

5 safeties?

Well we carried 5 all of last year, though Marlowe was basically a redshirt.

[ctrcat]

GMan has mentioned Kyle Love in national interviews post draft with our other DTs.  I too prefer him (5DTs) over Foucault (9OL).

Also, we could extend KK AND Star with bigger cap hits this year, have rollover and emergency money, and still have unused "splash" money.  Unless the free agent OT is truly big ticket or is a trade.

Edited May 19, 2016 by ctrcat

[top dawg]

Well, I think that the only position of real contention here on the Huddle is wide receiver.  That being said, you already started a thread yesterday about that very position. But just for continuity in this thread, let me repeat that I am going with Damiere Byrd over Brown and Keyarris Garrett will find a way to make the 53, whether it be at Stephen Hill's expense, or someone else's like Marcus Ball's  for example.  

I'd also suggest that either Cox or Miley will deep-six Horton. 

Edited May 19, 2016 by top dawg

[LUUUUUKE]

No way Hill beats out Garrett. 

 

Same size, same speed. One has hands and one doesn't. Garrett is the guy

I have been on record rooting for Hill, but Garrett replaces him easily. You have to keep in mind too though, that we didn't draft Garrett because the FO has said, that we already had that type of receiver. In fact we have two in Funch and KB.

Barring an injury on Garrett's part, he's a lock to make this roster; unless of course they choose a smaller faster WR in Byrd.

Theres no way Garrett stays on our practice squad either. He'll be gone the very second his name is put on the PS list. 

 

Garrett > Hill period

Edited May 19, 2016 by LUUUUUKE

[LUUUUUKE]

5 minutes ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

Garrett is NOT faster than Hill.

You better look up his pro day 40 times bruh... And even if it's a tenth slower, he CAN catch

Edited May 19, 2016 by LUUUUUKE

[top dawg]

3 minutes ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

Garrett is NOT faster than Hill.

Speed kills, but so does the inability to catch.

On an off note, Byrd may be the fastest on the team. Having Byrd and Ginn would suffice for our need for speed.

[h0llywood]

No Rockhead?

[Bronn]

I think Rakim Cox makes the team this year... maybe over Wes Horton...

I liked him last year and it appears he has been pretty intense in trying to better himself and play with an edge.