It’s been a while since the Panthers had a strong secondary unit. Safety Tre Boston was around for it, playing for the team from 2014-2016 before several big departures (namely Kurt Coleman, Roman Harper, Josh Norman and Charles Tillman) decimated the unit’s depth.
The defensive backfield seems to be getting back on track, though. Last year’s additions of cornerback Donte Jackson and safety Eric Reid provided a new foundation for the group. Bringing back Boston is another move that should help solidify the secondary. A few days ago, Boston signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the team that drafted him.
One of the reasons Boston wanted to come back was an opportunity to play with Reid, per Joe Person at the Athletic.
“It means a lot (to be playing with Reid). . . It’s something I’ve thought about for a while now. To have a solidified veteran in that room, somebody who knows how to play ball — somebody who, outside of football, holds himself to a high standard, it means a lot.”
Boston sees Reid as a model off the field, as well. He has stated he believes his protests are part of the reason he was released by Carolina back when Jerry Richardson was the owner of the team.
Boston told reporters he hasn’t decided if he will join in Reid’s protests this year when he plans to kneel during the national anthem.
As far as that new ownership goes, David Tepper seems to be much more open to the idea than Richardson, who was forced to sell the team in disgrace due to a slew of workplace misconduct allegations. By comparison, the team reportedly did not even ask Reid if he planned to keep protesting when they signed him last year.
Kneel or no, bringing Boston back into the mix fills a massive roster hole and should help keep Carolina competitive in a division that features two other future Hall of Fame quarterbacks and some all-time great receivers.
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