The Carolina Panthers should be holding rookie minicamps and OTAs right now, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting the sports world down, fans are left speculating on how the Panthers roster will look.
Even with last month’s draft completed, there’s still the possibility of some late moves before training camp is tentatively scheduled to start.
WFNZ will take a look at each Carolina position over the next few weeks to see where each group stands.
The Panthers re-signed Bonnafon to a one-year deal and signed Smith to an undrafted free agent deal.
McCaffrey is now locked in as the team’s new face of the franchise and is coming off a season where he became just the third player ever to have both 1,000 rushing and receiving yards.
Behind McCaffrey is where things get a little murky depending on how much first-year head coach Matt Rhule plans on using CMC.
Rhule has said this offseason that he doesn’t want to overuse McCaffrey like he has been under the old coaching staff the last two years, meaning Bonnafon, Davis, Smith and Scarlett will be fighting for the backup role.
Bonnafon, a third-year undrafted back, has the upper-hand by showing promise last season when he rushed for a 59-yard touchdown in Week 5.
Davis was claimed off waivers late last season and can bring a veteran presence if he makes the roster, while Smith, who is second all-time in rushing yards in Minnesota history, will fight for a roster position.
Scarlett, a sixth-round pick last year will have his work cut out for him with a new coaching regime in place. He could have a chance to be a special teams contributor.
The biggest question is which running back will be a reliable enough backup to fill in for McCaffrey when he isn’t on the field?
Carolina will be able to find more answers to this question during training camp.