3 Panthers Veterans Who Could Be Cut After the NFL Draft

Panthers head coach Matt Rhule announced with the release of Cam Newton that he is totally hitting the reset button in Carolina. While certain stars like Christian McCaffrey and Shaq Thompson are going to stick around, there is still plenty of dead weight on this roster. Once Rhule fills up on offensive linemen and defensive backs in the 2020 NFL Draft, these three veterans could be on their way out of town.

3. RB Mike Davis

Davis was signed after the Chicago Bears parted ways with him following the emergence of David Montgomery. While most expected him to be able to provide enough power to give McCaffrey a breather every now and again, Davis managed just two carries for two yards. With backup running back a high priority in this draft and a $3 million cap hit attached to Davis, he probably won't stick around.

2. S Juston Burris

Burris is one of the more interesting converted safeties in the league but there's a reason why he's changed teams in three straight offseasons, as his overaggressiveness in coverage can be exploited by creative offensive coordinators. Carolina is expected to look at their secondary and likely use some premium draft selections on another defensive back, which could include someone that is a more natural fit at the safety position than Burris. He shouldn't think his roster spot is guaranteed by any stretch of the imagination.

1. DT Kawann Short

Short is one of the best defensive tackles in football when healthy, but his declining health (just two games played in 2018) and ridiculous contract ($19.6 million cap hit in 2020) should at least get him thinking that Rhule could part ways with him. After losing Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe, Rhule could remake the entire defensive line in his image, and that image might not include Short.