The Carolina Panthers kick off rookie minicamp today. They released the full list of attendees, which includes the draft picks, 19 undrafted free agents, and 14 tryout players. It’ll be our first opportunity to hear about the rookies in Panthers’ uniforms. We expect a lot of that to be about Tetairoa McMillan and the new edge rushers. But perhaps the most interesting part of camp is hearing about which undrafted players are standing out among their peers.
Last summer we heard a lot about Jalen Coker, and he eventually worked his way onto the roster and became a staple of the Panthers wide receiver group. Here are a few players who could have a similar trajectory starting with this weekend.
Ryan Fitzgerald, kicker
There’s no better place to start this than with the kicker position. The incumbent is journeyman Matthew Wright, who isn’t a great plan A for the position heading into the season. Fitzgerald was one of the highest rated kickers in this draft class, and it’s somewhat surprising he even made it to undrafted free agency. He made 32 of 34 field goals in his last two collegiate seasons, including a perfect 14 of 14 last season. Look for some early reports on whether or not he’s looking like a legitimate long term solution for the kicker position.
Jared Harrison-Hunte, defensive line
JHH has he will be affectionately called measured as an athletic freak with a Relative Athletic Score of 9.39. He’s a little on the smaller side for an interior lineman, but he has the quicks and creativity to be a disruptive pass rusher. He has a profile that could look very impressive in a setting with limited contact. He could work his way onto the practice squad and some spot duty in the rotation when injuries pop up during the season.
Jack Henderson, defensive back
The Panthers barely have any safeties, which makes it the easiest position for an undrafted rookie to steal a spot. Henderson has one of those stories that people always root for. He only had two offers, both FCS schools, after playing just one year of high school football. He eventually transferred to Minnesota, where he featured as a swiss army knife on their defense. He scored a 9.37 RAS, so the physical traits are there. He could be a guy that keeps popping up wherever he’s used and eventually finds a place as a special teamer.
Luke Kandra, guard
There always seems to be a lineman or two that impresses throughout camp and finds themselves at the fringes of the roster. Kandra is the most highly regarded lineman that the Panthers landed in free agency, and depending on where you look, was a very draftable player. The Panthers don’t have a ton of depth behind their starters, so Kandra could be a name to watch as the offseason progresses.
Muhsin Muhammad III, wide receiver
Believe it or not, Muhammad is the son of former Panthers great Muhsin Muhammad. He had a strong start to his career at Texas A&M but fizzled out over his last couple of years there. He predictably has a lot of talent and natural receiving ability, but consistency and attention to detail haven’t been there. He’s going to generate a lot of buzz given his lineage, and in the context of other undrafted free agents and tryout players, his talent could shine through. And of course, by rule, we have to fall in love with an undrafted wide receiver during camp.