There’s a new Sheriff in town, among others
Because the Carolina Panthers were so incredibly bad at football last season, they were assigned the first right of refusal on the waiver wire following Tuesday’s 4:00 PM cut deadline across the league. They took full advantage of their position in the waiver order, selecting six total players. No other team in the NFL claimed more than four. The Panthers were able to completely revamp the bottom of the depth chart in the defensive secondary, as well as some added depth at a few other positions.
Players Claimed
DB Shemar Bartholomew
The 6’1” corner out of Georgia Southern was claimed from the New York Jets. The rookie signed with the Jets after going undrafted in April. He was a playmaker in college, notching over 30 pass deflections and double digit interceptions during his career.
DB Tariq Castro-Fields
This 6’1” corner out of Penn State was originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. After being released before the season started, he was claimed off waivers by the Washington Commanders. In the handful of games he played for the Commanders last season, most were on special teams.
DB Keenan Isaac
This massive corner stands at 6’3” and weighs 190 lbs. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Bucs as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama State following the 2023 NFL Draft. He only saw action in two games last season, and all his snaps came on special teams.
LB Jon Rhattigan
The linebacker is another familiar face for Dave Canales, as they spent a couple seasons together in Seattle. Rhattigan was signed by Seattle as an undrafted free agent from the Army following the 2021 NFL Draft. He was immediately a contributor on special teams, playing in almost every game when healthy.
EDGE Jamie Sheriff
A larger edge defender, Sheriff was signed by the Seattle Seahawks out of South Alabama as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. Sheriff was a bit of a surprise cut by the Seahawks considering he led the team in sacks during the preseason. He flashed enough for the Panthers to steal him.
T Jarrett Kingston
The 6’4”, 300 lbs tackle out of USC was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The 49ers moved him inside to right guard, but clearly did not see enough from Kingston to have him on the active roster. The waiver claim put in by the Panthers has him listed as a tackle, so that is likely where he’ll be deployed if needed.
Players Cut
For every waiver claim, the Panthers had to cut a player to make room. Such is the business of roster building. Some of the cuts were a little surprising, but having to make tough decisions is a good thing. It means your roster has depth. Here is a list of the players no longer on the Panthers 53 man roster:
WR Jalen Coker
DT Jayden Peevey
OG Cade Mays
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
CB D’Shawn Jamison
S Demani Richardson
Keep in mind, many of these players could end up on the practice squad if no other teams pick them up. There you have it, Panthers fans? Which waiver claim was your favorite? Which subsequent cut will the Panthers regret the most? Sound off in the comments!