Even before the Carolina Panthers pulled the franchise tag from Josh Norman, they needed a cornerback.
Bené Benwikere, their top remaining cornerback, is shifting from nickel to the outside and has progressed only as far as running on an underwater treadmill in his rehab from a broken leg.
“I know he’s running pretty good in the tub right now,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said last week.
The Panthers seem to be set at nickel after signing free agent Brandon Boykin. But their only other returning corners are a practice squad player (Lou Young), a special teams ace (Teddy Williams) and Robert McClain, who started Super Bowl 50 after being signed off the street last December following a rash of injuries.