What are the Panthers plans at safety?
Following the NFL draft, the Panthers have Myles Hartsfield, and Sam Franklin with a chance to start at free safety. There is a chance that Juston Burris could be thrown in there as well but the official website lists Chinn as a linebacker. While Snow will have a multiple defense, who will log the most snaps at each safety spot?
Sign someone in FA
The most attractive option in free agency would likely be former Colt Malik Hooker. The 25-year-old has battled multiple injuries in his young career as a pro but still offers the youth and upside that would make him attractive to a team desperate for the safety position following the NFL draft. He's worth a one-year flier if nothing else.
Of course, there's always the option of bringing back fan-favorite Tre Boston to provide adequate play for one more year. However, the Panthers seemed to struggle on the backend with Boston, who took bad angles in crucial moments. Other than those two, the safety room is pretty bare at this point.
Look at in-house options
1. While Jeremy Chinn is more of a defensive weapon, it's likely that he'll play more of the safety role in his sophomore season. I see Chinn as playing closer to the line of scrimmage like a strong safety but his range and the Panthers' relative lack of talent on the backend could force Matt Rhule's hand.
2. Juston Burris contributed mostly in the strong safety role for the Panthers last season and was average, to say the least. He did have a few good moments such as the game-sealing interception in Week 5 against the Falcons but never really stood out for his hometown team.
3. During the games in which Burris was unavailable, rookie UDFA Sam Franklin filled in and played admirably. In 2 consecutive plays, he recorded a sack and a TFL to help his team in a game that went down to the wire with the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs. Snow could look to feature Franklin in an expanded role next season.
There are many options for the Panthers, albeit a position they'll likely aim to upgrade at in the coming years. Who would you pick? What was your favorite option? Leave your comments below.