The Carolina Panthers 2024 offseason is in full swing. Training Camp is less than two months away. Dave Canales’ first mandatory minicamp as head coach is in the rearview mirror.
Carolina doesn’t possess a championship-caliber roster. But general manager Dan Morgan filled a few much-needed holes during the draft and free agency
It seems as though the Panthers will have a few competition battles that will result in some players being cut that have had success in the league. These could arrive at wide receiver, running back, and even the kicking position.
Morgan wants players that have that “dog” mentality, so we could see a shakeup with the roster based on the past regimes. A couple of players who have been added this offseason boast past ties to Canales. Time will tell if those have what it takes to make the final roster.
On that topic, here are four veteran Panthers players who may not make the final roster in 2024.
David Moore – Carolina Panthers WR
David Moore could sound like a new name for a casual Carolina Panthers fan. However, the former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver is entering his second spell with the organization – even though his first was a brief one.
Moore’s first stint with the Panthers came in 2021 during the Matt Rhule era. He signed a two-year, $4.75 million contract and was released in September. This was eye-catching at the time, with many believing he had the tools needed to impact a rotation that was in desperate need of consistency.
The former seventh-round draft selection has never put up jaw-dropping numbers. Moore’s best season came in 2020 when he hauled in 35 receptions for 417 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Moore is another player who has experience alongside head coach Dave Canales. They worked together for three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. Most recently, the pass-catcher was on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where Canales was the offensive coordinator.
He is a solid veteran player and should know the schematic demands Canales is looking to deploy. But due to the makeup of the wide receiver room, it seems very unlikely that Moore will make the final roster in 2024.
Terrace Marshall Jr. – Carolina Panthers WR
Terrace Marshall Jr. was selected at No. 59 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. LSU has produced some elite wide receivers in the past few years and the Carolina Panthers had hoped he would follow that trend.
Unfortunately, Marshall hasn’t quite panned out like some of the other LSU wideouts. He’s dealt with some injuries that kept him off the field as well as some healthy inactives throughout his first three seasons with the Panthers.
Last season, Marshall even requested a trade. However, no suitor was found and he remained on the roster.
Marshall’s best season came in 2022. He tallied 28 receptions for 490 receiving yards with one receiving touchdown in 14 games. In that season he averaged 17.5 yards per reception serving as a deep target for the Panthers.
All that being said, he survived two head coach regimes and is looking to stick around for a third with Dave Canales and his progressive staff. It seems like every preseason Marshall shows flashes during training camp that make fans think. Maybe this is the year our former second-round pick reaches his potential.
Marshall is a potential player that might not make the final roster in 2024. But Canales wants to see what he can do within his schematic concepts before making that decision.
Rashaad Penny – Carolina Panthers RB
Rashaad Penny is a running back that the Carolina Panthers signed following the 2024 NFL Draft. This move seemed to puzzle a lot of fans as the room was already rather crowded.
The Panthers have the incumbent starter, Chuba Hubbard. He posted a career-high number of rushing yards at 902 while averaging 3.8 yards per carry.
Miles Sanders will also see some touches. He had a down season last year, but in 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles, the veteran produced a Pro Bowl campaign and played in the Super Bowl.
The Panthers also took Jonathon Brooks out of the University of Texas at No. 46 overall in this year’s draft. Not to mention Raheem Blackshear, who has been a mainstay on special teams serving as the kickoff returner for the last two seasons.
Needless to say, it’s going to be an uphill battle for the veteran trying to lock in a spot on the Panthers’ 53-man roster. One thing the former first-round pick does have in his favor is his experience working with Dave Canales for five seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.
Penny hasn’t quite lived up to his draft selection. His career high in rushing yards came in 2021 when he rushed for 749 rushing yards, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. The physical presence also managed six rushing touchdowns.
As mentioned previously, it seems unlikely that Penny will make the Panthers final roster in 2024. But don’t dismiss the possibility entirely.
Eddy Piñeiro – Carolina Panthers K
Eddy Piñeiro has had some highs and some lows during his career with the Carolina Panthers. He came to the organization at the perfect time. Zane Gonzalez got injured in a preseason game and was traded to the San Francisco 49ers once healthy enough to participate before the 2023 season.
In 2022 with the Panthers, Piñeiro made a whopping 33 out of 35 field goal kicks with a long of 54 yards. A big detail of this success is the fact that he missed two potential game-winning efforts against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8.
Piñeiro had another solid season in 2023, making 24 out of 28 kicks, with a career-long of 56 yards. This also included two game-winning field goals as time expired for both of the Panthers’ wins last time around.
The reason Piñeiro is listed is the fact that there is an undrafted rookie out of Missouri named Harrison Mevis who has been the only kicker to report for the Panthers’ voluntary off-season program so far. He’s caught the eye and made this an intriguing battle to follow throughout the summer.
Piñeiro must be looking for a new contract. But the Panthers front office could be holding back due to what they’ve seen positively from Mevis up to now.
Another thing to note is that the new staff has no connection to Piñeiro as a player. There could be some concerns about the veteran’s kick power. His range tops out at about 56-58 yards.
Piñeiro could be a veteran player that will not be on the Panther final roster in 2024. That will be dependent on whether he can outperform Mevis or not.
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