It's been a wild NFL offseason heading full speed into training camp, but the Carolina Panthers have been noticeably quiet despite being linked to numerous veterans ripe for the picking.
As it stands, the Panthers are heading into training camp with the same roster the coaches worked with during organized team activities and minicamp, for better or worse.
The position with the most buzz in Carolina, and around the league, the last few weeks has been at cornerback. And the external inactivity from the Panthers at that position has reinforced the internal confidence in an underrated defender.
On Monday, ESPN's David Newton listed cornerback Chau Smith-Wade as the Panthers' biggest offseason surprise for the work he's put in this summer and the heads he's turned inside the building.
"It wasn't just obvious to sideline observers, it was obvious to teammates that the 2024 fifth-round pick out of Washington State had a stellar offseason and will be a factor in 2025. "Man, I think he's been the most impressive player,'' Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn said . . .
"Smith-Wade's ability to play corner, nickel and safety makes him valuable to a young defense trying to rebuild after finishing last in the NFL a year ago. "Chau took advantage of an opportunity,'' coach Dave Canales said. "He made tackles. He had an opportunity on an interception, and he made it.'' - ESPN's David Newton
All of those comments flew under the radar in favor of focusing on the top outside names. Veteran Pro Bowlers such as Jaire Alexander and Jalen Ramsey continued to be mentioned as options for the Panthers to go after to round out the position.
Since then, Alexander signed with the Baltimore Ravens and Ramsey was instead traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Carolina, meanwhile, is sticking to their guns.
Pressure is on for Chau Smith-Wade to perform
As a result, the pressure is on the second-year cornerback to show up in 2025, a similar trend the Panthers are forcing on other young defenders at other positions.
Given where the Panthers are as a franchise and as a potential contender, it makes sense. This team needs to be built from within and develop the in-house talent.
Teams like the Ravens and Steelers are top-tier playoff contenders that needed the extra veteran addition to chase a Super Bowl in 2025. Carolina isn't on that level.
Going back to Smith-Wade, the command he has of the defense now is evident. On top of that, he's bringing some versatility to the table playing outside, nickel, and even at safety with the secondary still trying to determine how to utilize all the pieces.
"He got the defense in one year," Pro Bowl CB Jaycee Horn said of Smith-Wade. "And he's out there making the calls for the safeties. He played line up at corner, he lined up at nickel, he lined up at safety. He lined up everywhere. He's just making a lot of plays."
Time will tell if the Panthers made the right decisions, and the decisions the team opted not to make, at the position. Regardless, the staff and players are building up their young defender and now it's on him to prove it on the field in 2025.
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