At 1-5, the Carolina Panthers have eliminated cornerback Troy Hill while joining a youth movement. After finishing the 2023 season with the worst record in football, first-year head coach Dave Canales knew he couldn’t rebuild this team in a single offseason. With too many holes to fill on the roster, the Buccaneers’ former offensive coordinator prioritized offense, rebuilding the offensive line while adding wide receivers Diontae Johnson and first-round pick Xavier Legette. This approach worked as the offense gained momentum when the team subbed Bryce Young for Andy Dalton.

Unfortunately, these offensive additions came at the expense of defense. With Brian Burns in New York, the Panthers lacked the pass rush to compensate for an already weak secondary. With the season now effectively over, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted that the team cut Troy Hill so they could give their younger cornerbacks more playing time. That makes sense, as the Panthers want to try to find a diamond in the rough, while Hill would much rather play with a contender like the Baltimore Ravens or Kansas City Chiefs.

Than that #Panthers get younger, a source says they are releasing veteran CB Troy Hill. This step makes sense for both sides because an experienced defense attorney is available. pic.twitter.com/jjD0h8P9ah

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 18, 2024

Troy Hill could sign with the Ravens, Chiefs after a brief split

Troy Hill is by no means a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, but the recently released veteran can add valuable depth to a team that could use more help in the secondary. This description fits the Baltimore Ravens perfectly as the unit is not as strong as usual. Typically associated with a strong and talented group of defensive backs, Baltimore’s secondary has struggled through the first six games of the season. Marlon Humphrey is still great, but Brandon Stephens is nothing special, and first-round pick Nate Wiggins is going through some growing pains as he adjusts to the NFL.

Since they share a division with the Cincinnati Bengals and a conference with the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, the Ravens could use as many reliable cornerbacks as they can find. Lamar Jackson is playing like an MVP and Derrick Henry is dominating opponents on the floor, but the Ravens can’t rely on winning every game in a shootout. Troy Hill isn’t good enough to beat Ja’Marr Chase on an island, but the veteran could carve out a spot as a valuable depth player who should see plenty of action in nickel packages.

Super Bowl reinforcements

The Kansas City Chiefs enter Week 7 with a flawless 5-0 record, but winning their third straight Super Bowl will take more than regular season success. The offense isn’t as unstoppable as usual as quarterback Patrick Mahomes struggles to get going without free agent signee Marquise Brown and reliable Rashee Rice. While Travis Kelce and first-round pick Xavier Worthy are still around, the defense needs to do more to maintain their status as kings of the NFL.

With L’Jarius Sneed now with the Tennessee Titans, the Chiefs could use another cornerback. Trent McDuffie remains elite and Jaylen Watson is having a strong season, but in today’s pass-happy NFL you need more than two reliable cornerbacks. Troy Hill can’t match Sneed’s impressive play, but the cutting veteran could easily be the third cornerback on this depth chart. If Kansas City’s offense doesn’t improve, this team needs someone like Hill to keep games from turning into shootouts.

Main photo: Jim Dedmon – USA Today Sports