The preseason is over for the Carolina Panthers and the club now has until 4:00 p.m. tomorrow to decide on the 53 players with whom they will enter the 2018 season. Most of those decisions have been made already. Cam Newton is not losing his job. Julius Peppers skipped the entire preseason and is still guaranteed a spot. These roster projections are all about the fringe guys. Follow along to see who we think is going to make it.
Note: This is NOT a projected depth chart. Just a projected 53-man roster.
Offense (25)
Quarterback (3)
Cam Newton
Taylor Heinicke
Kyle Allen
Running back (3)
Christian McCaffrey
C.J. Anderson
Cameron Artis-Payne
Fullback (1)
Alex Armah
Wide receiver (6)
Devin Funchess
D.J. Moore
Curtis Samuel
Torrey Smith
Damiere Byrd
Jarius Wright
Tight end (2)
Greg Olsen
Ian Thomas
Offensive line (10)
Ryan Kalil
Matt Kalil
Taylor Moton
Daryl Williams†
Tyler Larsen
Greg Van Roten
Jeremiah Sirles
Blaine Clausell
Trai Turner
Amini Silatolu
Brendan Mahon††
Defense (25)
Cornerback (5)
James Bradberry
Donte Jackson
Captain Munnerlyn
Kevon Seymour
Corn Elder
Safety (4)
Mike Adams
Rashaan Gaulden
Da’Norris Searcy
Colin Jones
Linebacker (6)
Luke Kuechly
Thomas Davis
Shaq Thompson
Jermaine Carter
David Mayo
Ben Jacobs
Defensive line (10)
Julius Peppers
Mario Addison
Kawann Short
Dontari Poe
Vernon Butler
Kyle Love
Daeshon Hall
Wes Horton
Bryan Cox Jr
Marquis Haynes
Specialists (3)
Kicker (1)
Graham Gano
Punter (1)
Michael Palardy
Long snapper (1)
J.J. Jansen
Practice Squad (11)
CB Lorenzo Doss
DE Zach Moore
DT Tracy Sprinkle
DT Kendrick Norton
LB Andre Smith
CB Cole Luke
G Taylor Hearn
G Quinterrious Eatmon
WR Mose Frazier
WR Jamaal Jones
DE Efe Obada*
† - Injured reserve candidate
†† - Injured reserve replacement
* - International Pathway Program player
Same as yesterday’s projection, there are 54 players on our 53-man roster projection. The Panthers will likely try to hide Mahon on the practice squad until they can officially place Daryl Williams on injured reserve. Then Mahon will be promoted to the regular roster until Williams is healthy enough to play again.
The big change in this projection is that I now think the Panthers will keep 3 quarterbacks. For one, Rivera has had 3 quarterbacks on his roster since he came to the Carolinas. For two, Allen played extremely well last night, albeit in the 4th preseason game. The Panthers would love to keep him on their practice squad so they could make room on the roster for Frazier, but quarterbacks are the candy of the NFL. If you just leave them on the practice squad for your kids to play with then somebody is going to come along and steal them. You have to say “screw my diet” and hold on to them yourself in this league.
Today’s practice squad projection is all about having an excuse to talk about Mose Frazier. The kid has bounced around the league on a few practice squads without showing enough to stick with a team since 2016. Last night he showed enough. This kid can contribute to a team as a 4th or 5th wide receiver. Ironically, the Panthers are too deep at that position — for the first time in franchise history — to need another quality 4th or 5th wide receiver.
Frazier’s only chance at making the roster will be if the Panthers decide to go with youth and instead cut either Wright or Smith. Look for the Panthers to try to hide Frazier on the practice squad as injury insurance (think Brenton Bersin’s career track). Also look for the Dallas Cowboys or New England Patriots to poach him at their earliest convenience.
What do you think, Panthers fans? Does this roster prediction line up with yours? If not, share why you disagree.
Stay tuned for our 53-man roster recap that will appear after cuts are finalized tomorrow.