Carolina trimmed to 53 and opened a path to upgrade at linebacker and in the secondary. Five veterans are eyed as potential fits: Jalyn Armour-Davis, Chad Muma, Isaiah Simmons, Chuck Clark and Chris Paul Jr. Each represents a different angle—boundary CB depth, downhill LB prowess, versatile hybrid defender, veteran safety leadership, and rookie upside. Waivers or vested veteran deals could bring one or more aboard as Carolina rebuilds its depth chart.

The Panthers must balance floor vs. ceiling: Armour-Davis and Clark bring immediate special-teams-ready depth and steady coverage; Muma adds reliable run support; Simmons offers high-upside versatility if deployed creatively; Paul Jr. carries rookie upside but health risk. Depth chart improvements could influence week-to-week matchups and fantasy outputs for Panthers defenders.