Carolina’s Costly Cut: Former Pro Bowler on Chopping Block This Offseason
A former Pro Bowler was named by The Athletic this week as a potential cut candidate for the Carolina Panthers this offseason.
The Athletic’s Joseph Person went with running back Miles Sanders as the most likely cut candidate for the Panthers ahead of the 2025 season.
Sanders, who was a Pro Bowler with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, just wrapped up his second season with the Panthers after signing a four-year deal before the 2023 season.
From The Athletic: The writing has been on the wall for Sanders since 2023 when Frank Reich and Duce Staley — Sanders’ two biggest supporters — were fired after 11 games. Sanders, who signed a four-year, $25.4 million deal that year, took on a reduced role behind Chuba Hubbard. Even with backup Jonathon Brooks likely sidelined for 2025 after a second ACL surgery, the Panthers can find cheaper options than the 27-year-old Sanders. The Panthers will create $5.23 million in cap space by cutting Sanders, who will always have his two-touchdown game at Atlanta in Week 18 when Hubbard and Brooks were out.
Sanders has been a big disappointment since arriving in Carolina two years ago.
The former Penn State standout has rushed for just 637 yards and three touchdowns in 27 games with the Panthers.
Sanders, who has dealt with various injuries throughout his career, simply isn’t a dependable option in Carolina moving forward. And with Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks on the roster, the Panthers don’t need to hope for a career resurgence from Sanders.
Releasing Sanders this offseason would result in just a $2.9 million dead cap hit for the Panthers.
