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Beat Writer Predicts Pair of Former Top Picks to Be Cut From Carolina Panthers Roster
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- Beat Writer Predicts Pair of Former Top Picks to Be Cut From Carolina Panthers Roster
The Carolina Panthers are coming off their first division title since 2015 and spent the offseason investing tens of millions of dollars into improving the roster. Those additions could seemingly result in a pair of former top picks not making it on the 53-man roster come September 1.
In his latest projection of the 53-man Panthers roster, Joseph Person of The Athletic has tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders and linebacker Isaiah Simmons being released before the NFL roster cutdown deadline on Aug. 30 before 6:00 p.m. ET.
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Simmons, the 8th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, faced long odds of earning a spot on the Panthers roster in September. The 6-foot-4 linebacker has bounced around the league in recent years, with his past two seasons spent on practice squads with Carolina and the Green Bay Packers .
Carolina signed All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd this offseason, giving him a three-year contract worth $45 million. In addition, Person projects that 2026 seventh-round pick Jackson Kuwatch will take the fifth linebacker spot on the roster. Given his history with the team and familiarity with Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero's system, it's possible Carolina could keep Simmons on the practice squad upon his release.
Sanders, the 101st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was once viewed as a future starter for Carolina. However, after earning consecutive first-team All-Big 12 selections with the Texas Longhorns, the 6-foot-4 tight end has seen his role in the Panthers offense steadily decline.
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Ja'Tavion Sanders stats (2025):29 receptions, 190 receiving yards, 1 touchdown in 13 games
The 23-year-old showed some nice flashes in his rookie season, pulling down 33 receptions for 342 receiving yards and averaging 10.4 yards per reception. However, he played 138 fewer snaps this past season with the team using him more on special teams.
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Sanders' fate in Carolina felt sealed the moment the team signed veteran tight end Darren Waller . Coming off a season in which he averaged 11.8 yards per reception with six touchdowns in nine games, Waller will be used in two-tight-end sets with Tommy Tremble this upcoming season, with Mitchell Evans and Feleipe Franks projected by Person to earn the other two roster spots at tight end.
