Panthers insider names two potential surprise cuts for Carolina this offseason
The Carolina Panthers are expected to have a very active offseason when it comes to roster moves. With a new head coach and a new general manager in place, it will be a bit of a "reset" this offseason for the Panthers. Carolina has several players that are set to be free agents (Brian Burns […]
The Carolina Panthers are expected to have a very active offseason when it comes to roster moves.
With a new head coach and a new general manager in place, it will be a bit of a "reset" this offseason for the Panthers.
Carolina has several players that are set to be free agents (Brian Burns and Frankie Luvu) or are extension candidates (Derrick Brown). Suffice it to say, some tough decisions will have to be made (even though the Panther are in relatively good salary cap shape with an estimated $28.6 million in cap space).
The Athletic's Joe Person, a longtime Panthers insider, detailed this week what a couple of those tough decisions could be this offseason.
Person listed running back Miles Sanders and tight end Hayden Hurst as a couple of potential "surprise cut" candidates for the Panthers.
From The Athletic: Sanders and Hurst were two of the Panthers’ big free-agent signings last winter who failed to find traction in the Young-led offense. Hurst caught Young’s first career touchdown pass Week 1 in Atlanta, but was a small part of the passing game before sustaining a concussion at Chicago and missing the final eight games. Sanders was the only running back to sign a multiyear contract in free agency, which came at the urging of former running backs coach Duce Staley. But after Reich and Staley were fired in November, Sanders’ playing time dwindled as the Panthers used Chuba Hubbard as their featured back. Cutting either player before June 1 would create substantial dead money and — in Sanders’ case — would actually cost the Panthers $2.75 million in cap space. So a release likely would have to come with a post-June 1 designation.
Person noted that trading either player would make more financial sense for the Panthers.
In the case of Sanders, a trade, however, seems unlikely.
Sanders signed with the Panthers after a career-year with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. He then proceeded to have the worst year of his career with the Panthers in 2023. Considering he plays running back, it's unlikely that Carolina will be able to get anything of substance in return (a pre June 1 trade would save the Panthers $3.2 million in cap space).
It seems far more likely that Carolina will keep Sanders on the roster in 2024, see what he has left in the tank, and then make a decision next offseason when they can move on from him with a much more manageable dead cap hit (it would be a $2.9 million dead cap hit if he's released after the 2024 season).
Hurst is in a similar situation. The Panthers can move on from him after the 2024 season and face just a $2 million dead cap hit instead of the $9 million dead cap hit they'd face if they released Hurst this offseason. A trade would still come with a dead cap hit of $6 million if he's traded after March 16.
You never say never when a new regime takes over. But unless the Panthers can get creative and find some willing trade partners, I'd be on Sanders and Hurst both being in Charlotte this fall.
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