Near the start of training camp, as the Carolina Panthers searched the market for cornerback depth, Troy Hill's name emerged. 

The four-time Pro Bowler signed with the franchise after six years with the Los Angeles Rams and one season with the Cleveland Browns. His rationale for joining the Panthers was finding familiarity, which he now admits he found — and a little more since first putting on the uniform nearly a month ago. 

"Being able to play in the same defense, some familiar faces, and I think it's a team that can surprise a lot of people," Hill said to Augusta Stone of Panthers.com."That kind of excited me too. …

"Roster, things like that. People don't really expect things from us, so we come out here and work. I know the coaches who are here, and I know the type of people they are. It's always a great opportunity to be around something like that."

The two people most familiar to Hill are Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and secondary coach Jonathan Cooley. Hill played under Evero from 2017 to 2020. He also played under Cooley in 2020 and 2022. Both coaches were members of the Rams staff, overlapping with Hill's time with the team. 

"(They're) great coaches, very detail-oriented," Hill said. "Very straightforward with you. And they are who you're going to get every day."

Hill gives the Panthers what they need: secondary depth. And the Panthers give Hill everything he was looking for: familiarity. 

As it turns out, in football, there are still some win-win situations. This is one of them. 

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Feature image via Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports.