Panthers 2018 season opener countdown: 35 days to go

We’re 35 days away from the Panthers kicking off their 2018 season. That means today’s countdown piece is about cornerback Corn Elder.Corn ElderBioHeight: 5’10”Weight: 185 lbsAge: 23College: University of MiamiNFL Experience: 2 yearsElder was a 5th round pick in 2017 who missed his rookie season after sustaining a knee injury during training camp. The standout player from Miami believes he is ready to come back and have Color Rush Greg Van Roten Jersey , in his own words, a “savage season.”Elder, who earned first team All-ACC honors his senior season in college, is expected to compete to be a part of the rotation at nickel corner behind wizened Panthers veteran Captain Munnerlyn. We haven’t seen enough in training camp yet to determine where he currently ranks in that competition, nor do we have any idea how the season ending injury to Ross Cockrell will shake up the Panthers’ original plans for the secondary.Cockrell was one of the front runners for the #2 cornerback job opposite of James Bradberry. His absence will create echoes of opportunity all the way down the Panthers talented — but unproven — depth chart. Training camp for Elder will be all about whether or not he can bounce back from his own injury well enough to take advantage of the opportunities in front him.Who will be the Panthers 2018 breakout star? Every year a young player or two has a breakout season for the Carolina Panthers. In 2017 it was right tackle Daryl Williams who had proven to be serviceable in his first two seasons, then suddenly morphed into a second team All-Pro talent last year. Wide receiver Devin Funchess also took a big step forward in 2017. After a disappointing second season in 2016 (23 receptions, 371 yards, four touchdowns), Funchess broke out with 63 receptions for 840 yards and eight touchdowns. This included an impressive five-game stretch between Weeks 10-14 where he averaged 4.8 receptions and 81.0 yards per game. So who will be the Panthers 2018 breakout player? Here are four top contenders:James Bradberry, CornerbackBradberry had a fantastic rookie year in 2016 then regressed in his 2017 sophomore season. In 2016 he was ranked by PFF as the NFL’s 20th best corner overall and the league’s top rookie cornerback with a grade of 82.6, slightly ahead of fellow rookie Jalen Ramsey’s 82.3. In 2017 Ramsey blossomed into a first team All-Pro while Bradberry saw his PFF rating plummet from 82.6 to 42.4 while allowing 795 receiving yards when in coverage. Bradberry flashed Pro Bowl potential as a rookie and could be poised for a rebound breakout season in 2018. Vernon Butler, Defensive tackleExpectations are always high for first round picks and through two season Vernon Butler has disappointed. The No. 30 overall pick in 2016 has recorded just 26 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 24 games. Part of Butler’s slow start has been lack of playing time behind Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei and he will face the same challenge this year playing behind Short and new arrival Dontari Poe. Additionally, Butler has been in a timeshare with fellow backup Kyle Love, with Butler registering 358 defensive snaps last year to Love’s 379 snaps last season. If Butler can make a Year 3 leap and take many of Love’s snaps from last year (Love turns 32 in November, by the way) http://www.authenticscarolinapanthers.c … ams-jersey , the opportunity is there for him to be an impact player even while playing behind Short and Poe. Taylor Moton, Offensive tackleThe 2017 second round pick suddenly has the weight of the offense resting upon his shoulders. Injuries to starting right tackle Daryl Williams and left tackle Matt Kalil have unexpectedly thrust the second year player from competing for an open left guard spot to protecting Cam Newton’s blindside. The Panthers depth chart currently shows him as starting left tackle. Moton showed well during the preseason and could potentially follow the same career path of Daryl Williams by starting earlier than expected, then quickly developing into an All Pro performer. Curtis Samuel, Wide receiverThe Panthers other second round pick in 2017 started slowly out of the gates as a rookie then put together a decent three game stretch between Weeks 8-10 with a combined 10 receptions (on 15 targets) for 83 yards, plus two rushes for 25 yards, before suffering a season-ending injury. Samuel returned from his injury to have the best 2018 preseason among all of the Panthers wide receivers by leading the team in both receptions (10) and receiving yards (180). Opposing secondaries are going to have to account for Devin Funchess, Greg Olsen, Christian McCaffrey, and perhaps rookie D.J. Moore, thus potentially allowing Samuel to be the beneficiary of soft coverage and open spaces. While the Panthers offense will likely spread the ball around to a multitude of pass catchers, Samuel could the receiver who makes huge strides in 2018.My vote is going with Moton. I think he has the best combination of opportunity and skill to truly break out in 2018. Nothing could help the Panthers long-term prospects more than Moton proving himself a capable tackle this year, so fingers crossed this actually happens. What are your thoughts, CSR faithful? Vote below and sound off in the comments.