Free safety has been a position of need for the Panthers for almost a decade and it’s never looked more questionable than it does right now. With Mike Adams no longer on the team, it’s anybody’s guess who will replace him in the lineup.
Four of the team’s seven listed safeties on the roster boast free safety experience, with the seventh, Eric Reid, being better suited to play closer to the line of scrimmage as a strong safety. So, who will be the starter next to Reid against the Rams in the season opener? Here is a look at a few contenders to win the free safety competition during 2019 training camp.
The favorite: Rashaan Gaulden
After playing in 14 games as a rookie in a reserve role, Gaulden is in the best position to win the starting free safety gig in 2019 – barring the rise of an unknown player behind him. A two-year starter at Tennessee, Gaulden was drafted in the third round in 2018 and recorded 12 tackles in his rookie season behind the veteran Adams.
Gaulden has not had much of a chance to show what he can do based on his limited amount of playtime. However, he still has lots of time to grow and take over as a leader for the secondary. Gaulden has a golden opportunity at training camp this year to secure a long-term role as a starter.
The No. 2 contender: Colin Jones
Now the senior member of the secondary for Carolina, the 31-year old Jones has mostly played on special teams in his career. That hasn’t stopped him from seeing defensive snaps though. In three of his previous four seasons Jones has recorded one interception, coming in to play as a reserve at either the free or strong safety positions.
In 2018, Jones also recorded the first touchdown of his career on a fumble recovery in the end zone. If nothing else, Jones provides valuable experience, knowledge and leadership for the defense. Then again, given his age and relatively limited athleticism compared to the other contenders, he would be a liability if he were to win this competition.
Sleeper candidates: Cole Luke, Quin Blanding
After making Carolina’s roster as an undrafted free agent in 2017 on the heels of a good showing in the preseason, Cole Luke was placed on season-ending injured reserve with an ankle issue after Week 1. Last year, Luke spent second season on the practice squad.
Another young player that head coach Ron Rivera has often been excited about, Luke has a slim chance to start but has pretty good odds to make the roster as a backup. This will be his first year at the safety position after being moved over from cornerback.
Blanding, a second-year player out of the University of Virginia, has a unique story for being a relatively unknown player. A five-star recruit in 2014, he was the ACC defensive player of the year as a freshman. Blanding would go on to record 495 tackles and 10 interceptions in his four-year college career before going undrafted in 2018.
Poor combine measurements would do him in as he ran a 4.63 second 40-yard dash and recorded a vertical leap of just 31.5 inches. An ideal fit as a strong safety, he could look to land a role behind Reid, who also lacks an ideal backup. However, if he comes up big in the preseason, it’s possible Blanding could land a spot in the free safety rotation.
