Cornerback Picture After Panthers Sign Charles Tillman

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In a move many saw possible as soon as the offseason began, Ron Rivera has been reunited with Charles Tillman. The Panthers signed the cornerback to a one-year contract Thursday.

Even though Carolina’s head coach is currently on vacation, his history with Tillman didn’t require him to be in town for the veteran’s meetings with other team officials.

Some quick hitters on Tillman:

At 34, the big questions are about his health and how much he has left. But at 6-foot-2, he gives the Panthers an option on the outside so they can slide Bené Benwikere back into the slot. Tillman’s signing doesn’t rule out the possibility of the Panthers drafting a cornerback.
Played all 12 of his previous seasons in Chicago
Played under Rivera when he was the Bears’ defensive coordinator from 2004-06
Played under Steve Wilks when he was the Bears’ defensive backs coach from 2006-08
Has forced 42 fumbles in his career; former defensive end Julius Peppers holds the Panthers’ franchise record with 29 forced fumbles
Made Pro Bowl in 2011 and 2012
Played just 10 games the last two seasons after tearing his right triceps twice
Won the 2013 NFL Man of the Year award over Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, who then won the honor in 2014
Played his college ball at Louisiana-Lafayette, the same school as current Panthers’ CB Melvin White and former QB Jake Delhomme
Was nicknamed “Peanut” by his aunt because his body resembled the shape of a peanut when he was a baby

PANTHERS CORNERBACK PICTURE

STARTERS

Josh Norman: 27 years old, 37 games played, 22 starts, 3 INTs, 18 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR, 125 tackles

Charles Tillman: 34 years old, 156 games played, 152 starts, 36 INT, 8 TD, 119 PD, 42 FF, 11 FR, 737 tackles

Bené Benwikere: 23 years old, 10 games played, 6 starts, INT, 7 PD, 1 FF, 2 FR, 33 tackles

BACKUPS

Melvin White: 24 years old, 30 games played, 17 starts, INT, TD, 11 PD, 2 FF, 36 tackles

Carrington Byndom: 22 years old, 3 games played, 0 starts, 1 tackle

Teddy Williams: 26 years old, 17 games played, 0 starts, 3 tackles

Lou Young: 23 years old, 0 games played

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Panthers/Truth

I doubt they can count on Tillman for a full season, and they really need better depth. This really drives home the need for better CB depth.
cxz

It’s not clear that Tillman is an injury plagued player to me, considering it was the same injury re-activated for the second year in a row as opposed to different ones piling up. He’s a fumble forcing machine and represents a solid veteran stopgap, and takes at least some pressure off of addressing the position in the draft this year. Good signing in my opinion, glad to see him join the squad, hope that triceps holds up for at least most of the season.
L-TownCat

Great signing. We are really getting to see G-man’s philosophy at work. Fill needs and/or holes in free agency and draft the absolute best player on the board when we pick regardless of positional need. Its not a perfect science though. If a Winston or Mariotta fall to our pick we wont draft a QB or MLB for that matter but anything else is there to be had. HOORAY for PEANUT!!