Troy Hill is set to hit free agency midway through the season. The veteran cornerback is being released by the Panthers, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports.
Carolina sits at 1-5 on the year, so it’s no surprise the team opted to move on from a veteran player to open up playing time for younger options in the secondary. Hill’s contract was set to expire after the year anyway, but now he will be available to interested teams without needing to be traded. After being waived before the trade deadline, Hill will not be subject to waivers.
The 33-year-old joined the Panthers last August, receiving a trade shortly before the start of the regular season. This one-year deal allowed him to reunite with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, who he worked with during their time with the Rams. Hill posted a 50% rushing share in 2023, racking up 48 tackles, six pass deflections and one interception.
This production allowed him to remain in Carolina, and he agreed to a new deal before free agency began. Instead of fulfilling this agreement (which was close to the veteran minimum), he will try to join the roster in the middle of the campaign. The move would generate a roughly equal amount of dead money along with salary cap savings.
Hill spent a lot of time outside earlier in his career, but lately has been working more in the slot. This skill set could help boost his value, although the former UDFA has struggled in coverage this season. Hill has fallen outside the top 55 in terms of CB PFF rating over the past three years, and that will continue in 2024 if he can’t produce stronger performances on his next team. As a 60-game veteran, he could provide at least some experienced secondary depth for a contending team.
The Panthers have struggled in a number of areas this season, including against the pass (226 yards allowed per contest, 26th in the NFL). Moving on from Hill would pave the way for increased playing time for some of the team’s younger contributors, including fifth-round rookie Chau Smith-Wade. It will be interesting to see how much interest develops among teams looking to add Hill in short order.