Dave Canales and Dan Morgan might have turned their attention away from the primary recruitment phase of the offseason, but that doesn’t mean alterations will end. This is an ongoing assessment for the Carolina Panthers with only a few cornerstone pieces guaranteed their roles. How players respond to increased standards and heightened competition won’t go unnoticed by the new regime.
Canales and Morgan demonstrated a willingness to ring the changes if they feel like it’s the best thing for their short and long-term plans. There should be plenty of urgency to raise performance levels. That’s without considering the need for Carolina to make strides and alter perceptions around the NFL after spiraling to rock bottom in 2023.
Not everyone is going to make it. Some players will be moved on long before final cuts are due. Morgan stated he plans to be aggressive on the waiver wire, so the general manager needs to make room for any potential incomings by disposing of some already around.
With this in mind, here are five Panthers players who look like cut candidates heading into the summer.
Ricky Lee – Carolina Panthers OL
The Carolina Panthers revamped their offensive line at great expense this offseason. Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis are the new starting guard tandem and come with huge expectations. Those in power also gave Yosh Nijman a decent contract to become their new swing tackle.
This resulted in Austin Corbett being switched to the center position. Brady Christensen becomes a versatile backup option entering the final year of his deal. The new arrivals also mean others will be pushed further down the pecking order with uncertain futures.
Ricky Lee is a prime example. The undrafted free agent out of North Carolina A&T suited up six times for the Panthers last season but was trusted with special teams reps only. With a fresh influx of new faces and the potential for more to come, a situation could emerge where he makes way.
Eddy Pineiro – Carolina Panthers K
There is a growing belief from those on the outside looking in that Eddy Pineiro’s status with the Carolina Panthers is hanging by a thread. The veteran faces a fight for his roster spot after those in power swooped to sign Harrison Mevis when the undrafted free-agent frenzy commenced. His impressive start to OTAs turned up the heat in no uncertain terms.
One would have expected Pineiro to respond by showing up and leaving no doubt as to his importance. Instead, the former Florida star opted to prepare away from the team. Something that didn’t go overlooked by head coach Dave Canales, who revealed that he hadn’t spoken to the inconsistent kicker about his absence.
This opens the door wider for Mevis to impress. The Panthers will likely give Pineiro a fighting chance once he’s required to take the field for Carolina’s mandatory minicamp. However, the margin for error has gone from slim to almost non-existent in pursuit of seeing out his contract.
Mevis has the momentum. If Pineiro cannot rectify this quickly when he gets back into the facility, the Panthers could easily cut him loose and move forward with the popular rookie.
Stephen Sullivan – Carolina Panthers TE
There will be an odd man out in the tight end room at some stage. The Carolina Panthers appear confident in Tommy Tremble’s capabilities with additional reps and targets. Those in power also took Ja’Tavion Sanders at No. 101 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft to potentially make an instant impact in the passing game with a smooth transition.
One cannot be anything other than impressed by the way Ian Thomas is catching the eye throughout early OTAs. The veteran’s flattered to deceive before, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can keep this up and force his way into Dave Canales’ plans.
No matter which way it goes for Thomas, things aren’t looking especially promising for Stephen Sullivan. The former seventh-round selections spent years in Carolina trying to carve out a prominent role for himself to no avail. If things don’t improve quickly, general manager Dan Morgan could see this as the perfect time to go in a different direction.
Sullivan’s got some intriguing physical traits, but it simply hasn’t come together consistently enough. He now looks further down the depth chart than ever before thanks to Sanders’ arrival.
Claudin Cherelus – Carolina Panthers LB
Considering that general manager Dan Morgan was a prolific linebacker in his playing days, it came as no surprise to see the front-office leader add to the Carolina Panthers options this offseason. This became essential after Frankie Luvu turned down an offer to stay in favor of the Washington Commanders, where he felt like Dan Quinn could help take his game to new heights alongside perennial All-Pro Bobby Wagner.
Morgan wasn’t going to dwell on Luvu’s departure for long. He signed Josey Jewell to start next to Shaq Thompson. He also selected two linebackers during the 2024 NFL Draft when Trevin Wallace and Michael Barrett heard their names called in the third and seventh rounds respectively.
This raises the stakes for others. Claudin Cherelus could be on the chopping block due to the increased numbers. But the Alcorn State product did emerge into a decent special teams presence during the six games he was active in 2023.
Whether this amounts to anything more under the new regime this time around remains to be seen. Cherelus has his work cut out – there’s no denying that whatsoever. If he cannot catch the eye early, his time with the Panthers could be short-lived.
Terrace Marshall Jr. – Carolina Panthers WR
Things looked especially bleak for Terrace Marshall Jr. heading into the offseason. The Carolina Panthers granted his trade request last season and made him an afterthought when no willing suitor came forward. Although the wide receiver is probably desperate for a fresh start, he’s getting another opportunity to showcase his talent under Dave Canales’ coaching staff.
This is a rare positive for Marshall during an underwhelming three-year career with the Panthers so far. Marshall has the tools needed to be a dynamic asset, but his starring performances throughout training camps haven’t amounted to anything near the level expected in a competitive setting.
Canales has put the ball in Marshall’s court, so to speak. The coaching staff will be watching his attitude and how he responds to adversity closely throughout the early stages of Carolina’s preparations for the 2024 campaign. If he manages to catch the eye and work hard, then a spot on the 53-man roster might not be completely out of the question.
There is a flip side to this coin. If Marshall doesn’t move the needle positively and fails to integrate himself well enough, that could be enough for the Panthers to end this experiment once and for all.
