The Panthers made their roster cuts to 53 on Tuesday, and two of the players they moved on from did not stay available for long. Linebacker Trevin Wallace was claimed by the Jets, while center Nick Samac was claimed by the Vikings.
It is a notable development for a team that has been trying to build deeper, more competitive roster layers under general manager Dan Morgan. Morgan said on Tuesday that the Panthers are getting better as a team and pointed to the type of players the team is bringing in as a reason other NFL teams are paying attention.
What Morgan said about the roster
Morgan said the Panthers are moving in the right direction, while also making clear that the goal is not finished. He said the team is bringing in players who appeal to other teams around the NFL and fit what those teams are looking for on tape.
He also said the cuts were difficult, especially when they involved players he had developed a relationship with. Morgan said he and Wallace had spent time together in his office watching tape, and he wished him and his family the best after the Jets claimed him.
That fits with Morgan's broader message since taking over: keep building depth, keep building competition, and keep looking for players who can help. He said the roster will continue to be churned even during the season as the Panthers look for ways to improve every area.
Why this matters for the Panthers depth chart
The Panthers had not had a player claimed off waivers after cuts to 53 since 2022, when the Seahawks claimed Darryl Johnson. In 2023, the Patriots claimed Matt Corral off waivers after the Panthers released him. This year, though, the claims came immediately after final cuts, with the Jets and Vikings both taking Panthers players.
Wallace's exit also reflects how the linebacker room has changed. The Panthers reshaped that group by adding Bobby Okereke and Tyrel Dodson while moving on from Wallace. That is the kind of depth-chart shift that can make a final roster call look more significant once other teams step in and claim the player.
The Panthers had six players claimed off waivers in 2024, and last year they claimed two players off waivers. Tuesday's moves show how active the roster-building process remains under Morgan, even after the initial 53-man group is set.
For Carolina, the immediate takeaway is simple: the Panthers depth chart is still being built, and the league noticed enough to claim two of the players the team cut.
