Hometown Boy Makes Good

Those injuries opened the door for Braxton Deaver to shine. The former Duke tight end didn’t drop a single catchable ball, and he’s expected to be among the tryout guys who earned a longer look.

Deaver could have gone to rookie camp with the Ravens, Colts or Raiders, but the Charlotte native turned them down for his hometown team.

“[During Friday’s practice], I would just kind of look over the skyline and be like, ‘Man, I couldn’t be happier to be here,'” Deaver said. “I couldn’t be happier than to be in my home city to play able to play for the Panthers.

“It was something that kind of gave me I think a little bit of an edge, to be honest. I’m very, very to be happy here. I just couldn’t ask for a better opportunity.”