Panthers’ Ejiro Evero on Jeremy Chinn’s role: ‘You just got to have him on the field’

The Panthers aren’t giving much away in regard to Jeremy Chinn’s role in their ever-evolving defense. But one thing is for sure, they’re planning to take advantage of his versatility.

“I don’t want to get into much of the specifics, but we just value the skill set,” defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said Tuesday. “He’s a guy that could do a lot of different things, and you just got to have him on the field. So we’re going to figure that out as we work through.”

Head coach Frank Reich has said this offseason that Chinn will play the “big” nickel role in the secondary in sub packages. He could also see work at dime linebacker when the Panthers’ defense faces obvious passing downs.

But the Panthers have stocked up on safeties who can play similar roles in the secondary this season, and their linebacker group has a few options for the dime package as well. Both depth charts, at least on the surface, have left Chinn as a defender without a home in a new-look defense.”

After struggling at safety last season, Chinn is in a “prove it” situation entering the final year of his rookie contract. While his versatility is a plus, his lack of a true position could also hurt his playing time this season.

“I’ll say this, we think very highly of him,” Evero said. “I think he’s a heck of a player. He’s a weapon that we’re definitely going to try to utilize, and I know that he’s an asset for us to have.

The Panthers signed veteran safeties Vonn Bell and Eric Rowe in free agency and drafted defensive back Jammie Robinson in the fifth round of April’s draft. All three players can move around in the secondary like Chinn, so the Panthers have options at the nickel corner position. Projected starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Donte Jackson can also cover the slot if called upon.

While Chinn appears to be earmarked for the “big” nickel package, the Panthers can utilize a platoon at the nickel position, an important variable in Evero’s defense.

Some teams prefer a rotation in the secondary, while others like to have stationary starters and role players. Evero, for now though, is willing to play the players he has on his depth chart, including Chinn, at nickel corner.

“We’re obviously scouting certain traits and certain characteristics and we want high-level performers,” Ejiro said. “But at the end of the day, the guys that you have, you have to make the defensive work around them. And so that’s what we try to do.”