All moves in the NFL aren’t all about the money. In this case, it’s about reconstructing a vision.
According to Joe Person of The Athletic, the Carolina Panthers are planning to release tight end Hayden Hurst. The move, which would come before Hurst collects a $1.85 million roster bonus on March 16, saves the team just $52,000 in salary cap space for 2024.
The former first-round pick inked a three-year, $21.7 million pact with the team last spring. Hurst appeared in just nine games this past season, amassing 18 receptions for 184 yards and one touchdown.
His 2023 campaign was cut short due to a concussion he sustained in Carolina’s Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears. While Hurst’s father had tweeted on Dec. 6 that his son was diagnosed post-traumatic amnesia, Hurst himself assured fans that his injury would not be a career-ending one.
Along with Hurst, the Panthers are also reportedly planning to part ways veteran cornerback Donte Jackson.