Should the Panthers Sign LB Shaq Leonard?
The Carolina Panthers may be well out of the playoff race with a 1-9 record, but GM Scott Fitterer is "always looking" for ways to improve the roster.
Earlier this week, the Indianapolis Colts waived veteran linebacker Shaquille Leonard after seeing quite the reduction in snaps, down around 28%. Leonard cleared waivers and is now a free agent.
So, should Frank Reich give his former linebacker a call to see if he's willing to reunite in Carolina?
Sure, it wouldn't hurt to call and gauge interest, but it has to make sense.
The Panthers have had some depth issues at linebacker this season and were already a relatively thin group entering the season. A season-ending injury to Shaq Thompson was a massive blow to the unit and although Kamu Grugier-Hill and others have played well at times, they could use more help.
The biggest question with Leonard is his health and it's likely the reason why 31 teams passed on him while on waivers. He missed the start of the 2022 season recovering from back surgery and then suffered a concussion and broken nose, putting him back on the shelf for another three weeks. Once he returned, the back issues popped up again leading to a second surgery in five months.
As talented as he is, I'm not sure it's worth Carolina's time. In a lost season, the Panthers are better off seeing what they have in the guys already on the roster. Plus, if I'm Leonard, I'm looking for a role on a contending team. With the recent injury history, you don't know how much you have left in the tank and trying to make one more run at a Super Bowl should be his main priority.
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