These five Panthers vets will be most impacted by free agency, draft

The roster churn in Carolina has been a fluid process for the Panthers’ front office throughout this offseason.

The team took a calculated approach to free agency — signing several mid-level veterans to team-friendly contracts — which gave the brain trust flexibility entering the draft. From there, the Panthers spent five draft picks on prospects at positions of need.

During the two-month roster-building process, the depth chart has seen its ebbs and flows ahead of offseason roster battles. With the offseason program set to pick up steam in the coming weeks, several veterans have been directly impacted by the moving and shaking of the roster, and they’ll need to forge ahead with added competition at their positions.

Here are the five veteran players who were impacted the most by the Panthers’ offseason wheeling and dealing:

S/LB Jeremy Chinn

Moves of impact: Vonn Bell (free agency), Eric Rowe (free agency), Jammie Robinson (draft)

The new staff has consistently labeled Chinn as a “rover.” That’s basically a nice way of saying that he is a talented tweener player without a true home on the depth chart.

General manager Scott Fitterer and head coach Frank Reich have said that Chinn will play the “big” nickel role in sub-packages. He will also see time at linebacker in dime packages.

Chinn struggled mightily as a safety last season. But there is an internal theory that he could play a more impactful role as a hybrid player, as he won’t be needed in space for coverage as often.

However, the Panthers have signed Bell and Rowe and drafted Robinson during the past two months. That trio has the ability to be used in a similar fashion to Chinn’s described role. Sam Franklin, the team’s resident special teams ace, also has the ability to play the “rover” position that Chinn is earmarked for.

Chinn isn’t a natural fit for the new 3-4 defense, but he could get by as a movable chess piece. Still, the added depth of Bell, Rowe and Robinson might make him expendable to the new staff.

If Chinn struggles in his new role this summer, he could be a trade candidate ahead of the final cut deadline.

WR Shi Smith

Moves of impact: Adam Thielen (free agency), DJ Chark (free agency), Damiere Byrd (free agency), Jonathan Mingo (draft)

Smith has quite the hill to climb on the Panthers’ receiver depth chart. The team traded away D.J. Moore, but quickly added Thielen, Chark and Byrd in free agency. Then, during the draft, Carolina selected Mingo with the 39th overall pick.

All four players — along with Terrace Marshall and Laviska Shenault — are probably going to be positioned ahead of Smith entering training camp. Byrd, a former South Carolina player like Smith, is also likely to be Smith’s biggest competition at the punt returner position.

If everyone stays healthy, Smith could be the seventh receiver on the depth chart. While Reich has kept seven receivers on his 53-man roster in the past, the Panthers might decide to invest an extra spot elsewhere on the roster this summer.

Smith will need to stand out on special teams to stick around.

OLB Yetur Gross-Matos

Moves of impact: Switch to 3-4 defense (new staff), DJ Johnson (draft)

The Panthers haven’t done much at the edge position this offseason. However, Gross-Matos is an awkward fit for the new scheme being brought in by defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

Gross-Matos — a 2020 second-round pick — is too bulky to play in space regularly, and he isn’t big enough to play the 4-technique position (3-4 defensive end). Essentially, like Chinn, he’s a man without a true home on defense.

The Panthers brought in Johnson — a third-round pick — to play a major role as a rookie. Carolina also has Marquis Haynes, who is a better fit for outside linebacker than Gross-Matos.

The Panthers should probably monitor teams with 4-3 defenses who need pass rusher depth this summer.

QB Matt Corral

Moves of impact: Andy Dalton (free agency), Bryce Young (draft)

Corral’s situation has been well-documented this offseason. With Young and Dalton on the roster, Corral’s outlook as the No. 3 quarterback isn’t likely change, barring a major injury.

Still, Corral — according to Fitterer — has come in with the mindset of competing. He’s also gained weight in preparation for training camp and the preseason.

After missing his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury, Corral has to prove himself to the Panthers and the rest of the league this offseason. He should have an opportunity to be spotlighted during the exhibition slate this summer.

Corral is competing to force the Panthers to keep three quarterbacks this season. He’s also competing to impress the rest of the NFL in case Carolina goes in a different direction.

TE Tommy Tremble

Moves of impact: Hayden Hurst (free agency), Ian Thomas (reworked contract)

Tremble is probably in the best position of any of the players on this list. While the arrival of Hurst is notable, the Panthers didn’t double dip this offseason with a draft pick at tight end.

Still, Hurst and Thomas — who took a pay cut to stay this offseason — are clearly the top two players on the tight end depth chart. Tremble will need to find a way onto the field with Hurst having similar strengths.

The biggest hit to Tremble’s stock is that Hurst and Thomas will probably be on the roster — given their new contracts — for the next two years. With that pair in front of him, Tremble won’t get much playing time — barring injury — throughout the remainder of his rookie deal.

That outlook could impact Tremble’s long-term league view.