The Carolina Panthers previously finished their first campaign under head coach Matt Rhule with an underwhelming 5-11 record in 2020. However, they are looking to turn the page with the arrival of their new QB1 in Sam Darnold who is also looking to redeem himself on the field.
Aside from him, star running back Christian McCaffrey will be making his much-awaited return as well after being sidelined due to multiple injuries last season. Certainly enough, the Panthers must surround their core with the best talents that they have in order for them to effectively lead the charge for the team.
Their veteran holdovers along with their regular contributors will certainly have to exert more effort in order to retain their starting roles for Carolina moving forward.
Here are the two first-stringers of the team who are in danger of being relegated to the bench for the 2021 season:
Panthers 2021 NFL Season: 2 Starters In Jeopardy
John Miller
The Panthers' offensive line has always been a clear weak point of their roster over the past few years. Looking back, the lack of talent in the trenches did play a part in hindering their former starting quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater to effectively perform in the pocket.
Last season, offensive guard John Miller wasn't able to live up to expectations as he allowed a total of three sacks and conceded six penalties in 910 snaps played in 2020. His job used to be secure with the lack of talent within the unit but the Panthers were able to load up on depth with their recent acquisitions during the offseason.
Veteran newcomers such as Pat Elfein and Cam Erving along with incoming rookies in Deonte Brown and Brady Christensen can all step up in the event that Miller underperforms once again before the start of the season.
With added depth in the unit, the 28-year-old has no other choice but to step up and make a case for himself to remain as a starter for 2021. Hopefully, going through a more structured offseason will help Miller keep his role which he could eventually lose if he fails to take his game up a notch moving forward.
Juston Burris
Safety Juston Burris spent his first few years in the league bouncing off from one team to another. He finally had the biggest break of his career when he was named as a starter for the Carolina Panthers in 2020. However, he failed to maximize the opportunity as he was slowed down due to a rib injury that kept him out of a handful of games last season.
His health condition eventually affected his level of play as his production for the Panthers regressed, especially in the second half of their 2020 campaign. The NC State product finished the season with a total of 53 combined tackles, four passes defended without a sack recorded in 13 appearances.
After taking the time to recover over the offseason, Burris will definitely have no reasons not to perform at his best next season. Additionally, a young standout in Jeremy Chinn will also make a switch to the free safety position which may eventually help elevate Burris' level of play next season.
Heading to the last season of his two-year contract, the veteran will certainly have to step it up and prove that he can be a reliable contributor for them if he wants to remain with the Panthers for the long run.
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