Cornerback LaDarius Gunter wasn’t out of work long. A day after getting cut by the Green Bay Packers, he was claimed by the Carolina Panthers.
Source: Former #Packers cornerback Ladarius Gunter was claimed by the #Panthers. Perfect team to help him reclaim his potential.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 13, 2017
The Packers dropped Gunter, their No. 1 cornerback in 2016, in order to activate suspended receiver Geronimo Allison.
Gunter was a favorite around here, but he had clearly fallen to fourth on the cornerback depth chart. He played just two defensive snaps in week 1. The starters — Davon House, Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins — all played 40 or more. The Packers’ top draft pick, Kevin King, got eight defensive snaps.
Interestingly, the Packers kept seven cornerbacks on their opening day roster. The bottom of that group was a 2016 undrafted free agent — Josh Hawkins — and a 2017 undrafted free agent — Lenzy Pipkins.
So why not release one of those guys instead of Gunter?
We don’t really have an answer. Both Hawkins and Pipkins were inactive in week 1.
Perhaps the Packers like their potential more than Gunter’s. What we do know is the position was heavy to begin with. The Packers typically only keep six corners.
It was an easy place to trim someone from.