The Carolina Panthers informed free security veteran Tre Boston about his release, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Boston had two years remaining in a three-year $ 18 million deal he signed in March 2020. Boston received more than half of that contract, since about $ 9.5 million was paid during the first year of the deal .
Boston played seven seasons in the NFL, including the first three (2014-16) with the Panthers. The three-year deal came after he returned to the Panthers before the start of the 2019 season, after two seasons away (Chargers, Cardinals). Boston started in all 16 games in 2019, recording three interceptions and 11 pass separations. Last season, Boston started again in all 16 games, setting a career high with 95 tackles. He also recovered two fumbles while recording an interception with four pass separations.
The Panthers’ fourth round pick in the 2014 draft, Boston made five games as a rookie before helping Carolina win the NFC title in a reserve role in 2015. He became a full-time starter in 2016, recording two interceptions and seven pass separations this season. Boston then spent a season with the Chargers, where he recorded five interceptions, the record for his career. He spent another year with the Cardinals before re-signing with Carolina, just before the start of the 2019 season.
Boston, who will be 29 years old before the start of the 2021 season, made 76 appearances in 104 regular season games. He has 15 career interceptions, 42 pass separations, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 429 tackles and 15 loss tackles. He also recorded two interceptions in five career playoff games. Boston proved to be incredibly durable; he played in 98% of the Panthers’ defensive snaps in 2020. He played in each of Carolina’s defensive snaps in 2019.
The Panthers probably considered Boston expendable with the appearance of Jeremy Chinn for the second round of 2020. In 15 games last season, Chinn recorded 117 tackles while returning his two fumble recoveries to touchdowns. Chinn was part of a fully defensive draft for the Panthers that also included the defensive tackle Derrick Brown, the defensive tip Yetur Gross-Matos and the defensive side Troy Pride Jr.
Carolina must pass her first-round pick in the 2021 draft with a quarterback. CBS Sports analysts Ryan Wilson and Chris Trapasso have the Panthers select former Ohio state defender Justin Fields with the eighth overall choice. Analyst Josh Edwards had the Panthers select former North Dakota state quarterback Trey Lance.