Panthers Already Cut Ties With 5 Players This Offseason

Unlike previous winters, the Carolina Panthers are having a quiet offseason so far. They will have more continuity in the front office and coaching staff after Dan Morgan and Dave Canales deserved another year in charge following the improvements the team showed in the 2024 campaign.

While the Panthers look to benefit from running it back next season, there will be some changes to the roster. Free agency kicks off on March 12 and the NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24. Armed with the. No. 8 overall pick in the draft and a projected $21 million in cap space, the Panthers will surely bring in reinforcements to the roster.

In fact, they have already started making roster moves to set themselves up for the offseason. Since the end of the 2024 season, the Panthers cut ties with five players: ILB Jackson Mitchell, WR Trenton Irwin, WR Praise Olatoke, DE TJ Smith, and TE Stephen Sullivan.

Players who finish the season on the practice squad are signed to reserve/future deals from teams that want to retain them. Ones who aren't signed become free agents. Mitchell, Irwin, Olatoke, Smith, and Sullivan can still return to Carolina next season but the Panthers will presumably look for other options to fill their practice squad.

TJ Smith was elevated to the active roster three times in 2024, playing in 55 defensive and 19 special teams snaps. Sullivan has been with the Panthers for the past four seasons and played one game this season before landing on the practice squad injured reserve list. Irwin, Olatoke, and Mitchell didn't appear in any games for the Panthers in 2024 and will likely continue their careers elsewhere.

More Panthers news and rumors: