Carolina Panthers: Releasing Boykin Creates Questions

The Carolina Panthers created a bigger hole in the defensive backfield by releasing Brandon Boykin.

The Carolina Panthers are a team in search of a replacement for premiere cornerback Josh Norman. Now that he’s closed that chapter on his career and joined the Washington Redskins, the Panthers are steadily looking for a player that can fill that spot. Brandon Boykin was added to Carolina’s growing roster and was expected to have a true shot at ample playing time. Surprisingly, the Panther’s released Boykin in a move that raises questions for obvious reasons.

In four seasons of NFL performance, Boykin has been a suitable defensive back. 2013 was his biggest year in which he earned six interceptions, but since then he’s never snatched away more than one. He wasn’t a known starter, but still had the ability to contribute whenever he was added to a defensive roster. He was expected to compete for a starting slot in Carolina but his release comes after the Panthers took a number of defensive backs in the draft.

Lol NFL does not surprise me anymore.. Business is crazy. On to the next.
— Brandon Boykin (@BrandonBoykin2) May 16, 2016

James Bradberry, Daryl Worley and Zack Sanchez join a group that includes a questionable core of defensive backs. Bene Benwikere, Robert McClain, Lou Young and Teddy Williams are the players currently on the roster along with these draft picks. Benwikere and McClain were contributing parts to one of the best defensives in 2015, but they weren’t the star players that this defense needs. Boykin had a shot to take over the slot position, but the Panthers seem to have found their answer within the current roster.

According to Kevin Patra of NFL.com, the Panthers are not making any moves to add a veteran defensive back to their roster. At this time there aren’t many options on the free agent market either way. That means that Carolina must have a player that they find as a viable alternative to losing Norman and releasing Boykin of his position on the team. Even after the draft this area is a pressing concern to both fans and leadership within the organization.

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The question is with whom the Panthers will trust with this valuable task. Carolina’s defensive backfield was consistent throughout much of the year because the front line and core of linebackers were causing havoc against the opposing offenses.

Bradberry and Worley seem to be the first two options to fulfill this spot due to their size and performance throughout college. But they lack the experience that Boykin brought to the table.

While he didn’t get much starting time with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles, he did get the opportunity to be a functional component of a high-level defense. That’s the type of experience that Boykin added to the roster, but was lost the moment he was cut by the organization.

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The Panthers have a clear need to strengthen their defensive backfield. As the 2016 campaign looms, releasing Brandon Boykin creates an opening for one of these other players to become contributing factors. The question comes up as to which player will do the job and right now it doesn’t seem like the Panthers have the viable solution within its current rosters of defensive backs.