The Panthers got the veteran cornerback they so desperately needed yesterday by agreeing to terms of a one-year deal with Eli Apple.
Apple’s time in the NFL has been defined by unfulfilled potential. He has the athletic tools he needs to succeed. However, as of yet he hasn’t been able to put it all together and live up to his status as a former first-round pick. Here are four things Apple brings to the table for the defense.
Length and speed
First, let’s start with Apple’s physical traits. One thing that Carolina’s cornerback room was missing before this addition was length. Donte Jackson and Troy Pride Jr. have their own positive athletic attributes. Size isn’t one of them, though. Apple offers an upgrade over them here at 6-foot-1, 203 pounds and 31 3/8 inch arms. He’s also fast, having run an official 4.40 forty at the 2016 combine and a low time of 4.24. That combination of length and speed is necessary for any outside corner.