Who Will Be Panthers Biggest 2021 Sleeper?

[KatsAzz]

https://sports.yahoo.com/carolina-panthers-biggest-sleeper-2021-150019918.html

Who is the Carolina Panthers’ biggest sleeper for the 2021 season?

Every NFL season comes with unforeseen surprises and unexpected turns. Not all of them are pleasant, but it’s always great to see players who take an unexpected leap forward and make a big impact for their team.

Last year, the Carolina Panthers had a few sleepers show up. Backup running back Mike Davis did an excellent job in Christian McCaffrey’s place while he missed most of the season due to injuries. On defense, rookie Jeremy Chinn broke through with an exceptional rookie year.

This year, Bleacher Report has identified one sleeper for every team. In Carolina’s case, it’s linebacker Denzel Perryman.

“Perryman is getting a second chance to be a starter after inking a two-year deal with the Panthers. Shaq Thompson is entrenched as one of the every-down linebackers, but Perryman has a path to a three-down role if he can stay on the field. If he starts in the middle for the Panthers, he’ll blaze past that 73-tackle high-water mark. And the acclaim we thought was inevitable all those years ago may finally come.”

 

Perryman proved to be a reliable tackler and a solid coverage linebacker during his time with the Chargers. The question is if he’ll stay healthy enough to maintain that full-time middle linebacker role. Since he was drafted in 2015, Perryman has missed 27 games The good news is that even if Perryman’s injury issues continue, the Panthers have a quality backup option in Jermaine Carter, who performed well down the stretch after Tahir Whitehead was benched.

Edited July 10, 2021 by KatsAzz

[KatsAzz]

The Panthers spent a couple of years in salary cap hell thanks to former OT Matt Kalil’s burdensome old contract and several other unfortunate decisions by the previous regime.

Heading into 2021, they’re in much better shape financially, so getting LB Denzel Perryman for $1,990,000 could turn out to be a steal if he produces.

Edited July 10, 2021 by KatsAzz

[pantherclaw]

Not much of a choice. Our starting MLB could have a good season. 

 

Ya don't say. 

[Captain Morgan]

we also have Perryman under contract next year at a very good deal for us, allowing us to keep him cheap or cut and run.

Let's hope he can be the guy.

We'll need a new OLB next year, but with Perryman and Jermaine, I hope we have our ILB situation firmed up in the short term.

[SBBlue]

2 hours ago, stbugs said:

Is it just me or was this exact same article posted a month or so ago? I feel like I distinctly recall Perryman as our sleeper before.

Also, any author that says we spent a couple years in salary cap hell mainly for Matt Kalil really doesn’t do any research and knows very little about the Panthers. We spent $25M total on him. That’s it. We spent $70M in 2020 for one year of Bridgewater, Okung, Short, Weatherly, Apple and Roberts. Kalil sucked, but Hurney wasted multiples of Kalil in 2019/2020 for a 10-22 record.

That's fair.  I would list Kalil as the poster boy of the problem,  not necessarily thee problem. 

Matt Kalil's cap hit was 3rd highest on the team last year, after TB and Okung.   He hasn't played for us since 2017.   We had to pay Okung 13 mil last year because Kalil sucked.   He was our largest dead cap expenditure in 2020, over Greg, Luke and Cam, years after he was long gone.

Now that I look at this, that meant for 2020, we spent about 25 mil to cover LT.

Edited July 10, 2021 by SBBlue

[MHS831]

i think it is going to be Darnold. 

[KatsAzz]

15 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

i think it is going to be Darnold. 

MHS831,I hope you are correct in your assumption because that would mean we had a good season and are set at QB long term.

[Pimpdaddy]

42 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

i think it is going to be Darnold. 

....it better be Darnold...

[Captain Morgan]

1 hour ago, MHS831 said:

i think it is going to be Darnold. 

[AggieLean]

It better be Darnold, but I doubt it. 
 

Perryman is a safe choice. 

[Moo Daeng]

The term means the person who surprisingly succeeds. Why would Perryman playing well be surprising?

Darnold playing better wouldn't be surprising either as most predict he will.

It would need to be someone like Little or Slye or Irving to a lesser extent to be a sleeper. Or Grier solidifying the backup.

[dave-o]

The boy Topcats....  haha

[pantherclaw]

2 hours ago, Moo Daeng said:

The term means the person who surprisingly succeeds. Why would Perryman playing well be surprising?

Darnold playing better wouldn't be surprising either as most predict he will.

It would need to be someone like Little or Slye or Irving to a lesser extent to be a sleeper. Or Grier solidifying the backup.

Thank you. 

Some people fail to grasp simple communication.  

[ColumbusCounty]

Hands down: DaQuan Jones. 

The more suprising pick would be:

Jermaine Carter Jr ..if he gets enough playing time.