1 undrafted free agent who will make Panthers’ 2024 roster tchieu

The Panthers need to find a lead back behind Bryce Young and there's an undrafted free agent who could compete for that job.

The Carolina Panthers' 2024 offseason has been a largely successful one. Carolina made a number of marquee free-agent signings, including adding guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. Though they were down their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which wound up as the first overall pick, as a result of the trade for Bryce Young last year, they managed to bring in a lot of talent. Carolina's draft looks strong but so does their group of undrafted free agents. Amongst that crop, running back Jaden Shirden is someone who could make their 53-man roster.

Jaden Shirden had outstanding production

It's a bit understandable that Jaden Shirden wound up not hearing his name called during the 2024 NFL Draft. Not many players from Monmouth University wind up getting drafted. But just because he went to a small school doesn't mean that he can't play.

Shirden was a monster in his three seasons at Monmouth. He didn't play much in his first season there but was off the charts in his final two years there. His best work came in 2022. Shirden ran for 1,722 yards and 13 touchdowns in that campaign and did so while maintaining an otherworldly 8.4 yards per carry average. He is a big play waiting to happen.

This is Jaden Shirden’s 15th TD run in the last two seasons. He has a 51.7-yard average on them.

No other FCS player with at least 10 TD runs in that time is averaging even 34 yards.

pic.twitter.com/PRcOrQXQky

— Craig Haley (@CraigHaley) November 5, 2022

His production in 2023 wasn't quite up to the standard he set in 2022, but it was still excellent. He scampered for 1,478 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Perhaps most impressive for Shirden this previous season was the work he did as a receiver. He only posted five catches in his first two collegiate seasons but bumped that number to 20 in 2023 alone. The Monmouth product proved he's capable of playing on all three downs.

Shirden carried that momentum into the pre-draft process. He earned and accepted an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl where he proved he can compete and play against the best competition.

Panthers' RB depth situation

Shirden can absolutely play, but now he has to prove he belongs on an NFL roster. With the Panthers, he might get that chance.

Carolina does have two backs who look like roster locks in their second rookie Jonathon Brooks and Chuba Hubbard. But after them, their running back room is an absolute crap shoot.

The Panthers signed Miles Sanders last year to a four-year $25.4 million contract. Unfortunately for them, the early returns on that deal have been disastrous. Sanders was one of the worst running backs in the NFL in 2023.

He ranked 54th in the league in yards per touch (3.8) and 52nd in yards created per touch (2.65) according to playerprofiler.com. The 3.3 yards per carry average Sanders posted was easily the worst of his career. In addition to that, he averaged just 0.81 yards per route run.

Sanders was dreadful last season there is no other way around it. That led to Carolina featuring Hubbard instead down the stretch. The Panthers can save about $10 million in 2025 if they waive him or could choose not to wait and cut Sanders this year.

If a team suffers an injury to their starting running back in training camp, it would make sense for Carolina to trade him during the offseason as well. Regardless, though he is making good money this year, he isn't in the Panthers' plans going forward.

Other than Brooks, Hubbard, and Sanders, the Panthers' depth chart at that position isn't very strong. Rashaad Penny has been a shell of himself after injuries derailed his career. Raheem Blackshear is a fine special teams and third down specialist but not much more. The same can be said for Mike Boone.