Let me say upfront that I think Carolina will regret keeping S Nate Salley and DE Charles Johnson over S Terrence Holt and DE Stanley McClover. RB Decori Birmingham is also a kid who could make a roster some where, but obviously not with two young first-rounders of ahead of him.
I’d also like to think we can bring DT Nick Hayden back to the practice squad as the rookie has potential to develop into a solid, workman-like backup.
As for this season, GM Marty Hurney has clearly opted to gamble that the kick return game will be OK until Ryne Robinson gets healthy, even if that means using starters to return kicks. And keeping eight LBs might be a record for a non 3-4 team. But what is done is done. Hurney went out and got his “veteran backup QB” in journeyman Josh McCown, kept a kickoff specialist, and is heading into a make or break season with the Panthers.
I honestly have no idea which one it will be.
