Carolina Panthers Depth Chart
- NFC South
- Stadium
- Bank of America Stadium
- Head Coach
- Matt Rhule
- Offensive Coordinator
- Joe Brady
- Defensive Coordinator
- Phil Snow
- Special Teams Coach
- Chase Blackburn
- Defensive Scheme
- 4-3
The Carolina Panthers released Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short on Wednesday and defensive end Stephen Weatherly, safety Tre Boston and punter Michael Palardy on Friday, clearing $19.9 million in salary cap space this week. The moves improved the team's cap space to $28.473 million heading into the start of free agency next month. Carolina's cap space was around $8.5 million after the 2020 season, but they cleared $8.66 million with the release of Short, $5.906 million with Weatherly, $3.55 million with Boston and $1.787 million with Palardy. Even before Boston's release, the Panthers led the NFL with $22.6 million in dead money. It's big for a team looking to upgrade at quarterback -- they made an offer for Matthew Stafford and plan to make a strong run at Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson if they grant his wish and trade him.
The Carolina Panthers informed starting safety Tre Boston of his release on Friday, according to a source. With the move, the Panthers will clear around $3.5 million against the salary cap. The 28-year-old was third on the team with 95 tackles during the 2020 season, and he also recorded an interception, a sack and two fumble recoveries. In his seven seasons in the NFL with the Panthers, Cardinals and Chargers, the 28-year-old has 429 tackles, 15 interceptions (one touchdown), 42 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and three sacks in 104 games (76 starts). A fourth-round pick by Carolina in the 2014 draft out of North Carolina, Boston should be able to latch on with another team on the open market this offseason.
The Carolina Panthers are releasing two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short on Tuesday after eight years with the team, according to a source. Short was a second-round selection back in 2013 and earned a five-year contract extension in 2017, but he's been mostly an afterthought on the defensive line for most of the four seasons since his extension. He has played in just five games due to recurring shoulder issues after making his second Pro Bowl in 2018. Sixth-rounder Bravvion Roy filled in for Short in 2020. The Panthers will take on $11 million in dead salary cap space with the move but will save $8.6 million of the $19.6 remaining on Short's cap number. The 32-year-old will have to take less money on the open market and prove that he's healthy with a new club.
The Carolina Panthers officially reached an agreement on a five-year deal with former Seattle Seahawks vice president Scott Fitterer on Thursday night to become their next general manager. Fitterer was a late addition to the interview process but made a quick impression on the Carolina decision-makers. He was one of 15 candidates to interview for the position when the team fired veteran Marty Hurney on Dec. 21. The other finalists for the job included Tennessee's Monti Ossenfort, San Francisco's Adam Peters and Kansas City's Ryan Poles. Fitterer had been with Seattle since 2001 and worked alongside Seattle GM John Schneider since 2010. He'll be paired with second-year head coach Matt Rhule with the team coming off a 5-11 season with the eighth overall pick in the upcoming draft. Locating a franchise quarterback will be priority No. 1.
The Carolina Panthers are expected to hire Seattle Seahawks vice president of football operations Scott Fitterer as their new general manager, according to sources. Fitterer was a late addition to the interview process but made a quick impression on the Carolina decision-makers. He was one of 15 candidates to interview for the position when the team fired veteran Marty Hurney on Dec. 21. The other finalists for the job included Tennessee's Monti Ossenfort, San Francisco's Adam Peters and Kansas City's Ryan Poles. Fitterer had been with Seattle since 2001 and worked alongside Seattle GM John Schneider since 2010. He'll be paired with second-year head coach Matt Rhule with the team coming off a 5-11 season with the eighth overall pick in the upcoming draft. Locating a franchise quarterback will be priority No. 1.