Could the Carolina Panthers strengthen their secondary by calling up a familiar face?
Ethan Woodie of NFL Trade Rumors recently named some potential landing spots for free-agent cornerback Rasul Douglas. And among the top three possible suitors are the Panthers, who may need some additional depth behind Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson.
Woodie writes:
Douglas wouldn’t replace Jackson or Horn as starters, but he’d be an immediate upgrade over [Chau] Smith-Wade in the slot if the coaching staff wants to play him there. Even if they’d rather not, he’d be the third outside corner on the team and a high-quality backup cornerback. He’d give Carolina options at the one position on defense they don’t have many.
The Panthers did select Texas A&M’s Will Lee III in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Lee, who took the vast majority of his college snaps from the outside, seems likely to serve as the first line of defense behind the duo Horn and Jackson.
Meanwhile, the starting slot role could be up for grabs—with Smith-Wade and second-year corner Corey Thornton as the top contenders.
Douglas, who turns 32 years old in August, spent one of his nine NFL seasons in Carolina. That short stay came in 2020, where he made 11 starts over 14 outings.
2025 saw Douglas make 13 starts for the Miami Dolphins, totaling 62 combined tackles and two interceptions.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL free agency: Panthers named possible sutior for CB Rasul Douglas
