{"id":64,"date":"2026-05-12T12:05:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:05:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=64"},"modified":"2026-05-12T12:05:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:05:34","slug":"carolina-panthers-rookie-wants-to-prove-nfl-wrong-his-opportunity-is-clear-cut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=64","title":{"rendered":"Carolina Panthers rookie wants to prove NFL wrong. His opportunity is clear-cut"},"content":{"rendered":"

There were 257 players selected in April\u2019s NFL Draft,<\/a> and DeVonta Smith wasn\u2019t one of them<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read more Sharigato, Charlotte\u2019s first sushi hand roll restaurant, set to open next week<\/a><\/p>\n

The new Carolina Panthers<\/a> cornerback, who split his college career between stints at Alabama and Notre Dame, doesn\u2019t think the math adds up.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something that\u2019s not a fixed process, the draft process \u2014 they get a lot of it wrong,\u201d Smith told The Charlotte Observer Saturday. \u201cI feel like I should have been drafted. But that\u2019s up to me, years later down the road, creating a great career for myself to prove, to show that I should have been drafted, and I should have been one of those guys that wasn\u2019t overlooked and got that call.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith didn\u2019t get the call he yearned for on draft weekend, but he still heard from teams that wanted to add him to their rosters after the selection process was completed.<\/p>\n

He saw an opportunity in Carolina, where the nickel corner spot has been opened up for competition<\/a>. Smith, according to Pro Football Focus<\/a>, played 527 snaps in the slot during his final two years in college, so he\u2019s positioned to at least hold his own in the race during the summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I have a good opportunity to come in and add value to this team, whether that\u2019s at nickel, at the corner, at safety,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI feel like I\u2019m a versatile player and I can play all those positions and add value to this team, and special teams is a huge part of it, too. I feel like I\u2019m a very dominant force on special teams and (I\u2019m) willing to do whatever for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith, 23, spent his first four college years in Alabama. He got a firsthand look at quarterback Bryce Young during the playmaker\u2019s Heisman trophy-winning run in 2021, as they were teammates during the passer\u2019s final two years in Tuscaloosa.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat player, even better teammate \u2014 great leader,\u201d Smith said about Young. \u201cOn the field, he was dominant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith was a special teams mainstay during his first three years with the Crimson Tide. He eventually became a regular within the Alabama defense after Kalen DeBoer replaced Nick Saban as head coach in 2024. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound defensive back landed a role at the nickel position in a zone-heavy scheme before transferring to Notre Dame \u2014 which focused more on man coverage \u2014 in 2025.<\/p>\n

Working within different schemes tested Smith\u2019s versatility and football IQ.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just creating a mentality that I\u2019m going to deny my man the ball when I\u2019m in man coverage and just any play, any game and situation,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n

Panthers head coach Dave Canales noticed Smith\u2019s range during a pair of rookie minicamp workouts<\/a> this past weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cVersatility,\u201d Canales said, regarding his biggest takeaway from Smith\u2019s rookie camp performance. \u201cSpent a lot of time in the slot \u2014 playing the nickel \u2014 but a guy that can certainly play outside, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more North Carolina man dies snorkeling at remote spot off Florida Keys, sheriff says<\/a><\/p>\n

Smith enters a cornerback room with plenty of talent and experience. The competition for a depth spot will be tight.<\/p>\n

Behind two-time Pro Bowl selection Jaycee Horn and veteran Mike Jackson are the likes of Chau Smith-Wade, Corey Thornton, Akayleb Evans, Robert Rochell and fourth-round pick Will Lee. Smith is also one of three undrafted additions to the room, along with Jaylon Guilbeau and Cam Miller.<\/p>\n

Smith is likely to battle for snaps in the slot.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat position right there, we have Chau coming back, we have Corey Thornton, who really won the job during the season last year and got an opportunity until he got hurt,\u201d Canales said. \u201cSo, there\u2019s a great competition already happening. We love to throw more possible guys at each position \u2014 competition just breeds success. It breeds growth and development and guys really start to push each other. So, I\u2019m excited to get those guys with the full group.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the rookie minicamp, Smith tried to focus on learning lessons over making mistakes. He\u2019s a rookie and mishaps will happen. The cornerback just wants to learn quickly from the miscues and push forward.<\/p>\n

He wants to play freely.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy biggest takeaway was coming here and being a sponge,\u201d Smith said. \u201cNot thinking too much of it, not being too focused on failure, but leaning more on being successful on it and just playing ball and letting it loose. So that was just my mindset this week. \u2026 Everything I learned throughout my college career kind of transferred here to this defense and playing a lot. Zone split safety, variables and coverages. So, it was very easy for me \u2014 easy transition.\u201d<\/p>\n

The nickel position in the NFL isn\u2019t an easy spot to play. While he has at least two experienced players in front of him, Smith has confidence that he has what it takes to play the middle of the field at the next level.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to be equipped with all the tools \u2014 you\u2019ve got to be a complete defensive back,\u201d Smith said. \u201cYou can\u2019t lack being physical. You can\u2019t lack in coverage. You can\u2019t lack in communication. You have to lead, and I think that I bring all those tools in my toolbox to be able to help this team and create value for myself and the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith is also looking forward to practicing against Young again. It\u2019s been three years since they last worked against each other, and Smith wants to make another impression on his former college teammate this summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I ever got a turnover on him before because he was just that elite,\u201d Smith said with a big smile.<\/p>\n

But if Smith can make some plays against Young and the offense in training camp, he might turn the heads of some of Carolina\u2019s most notable evaluators. From there, he can put his versatility to the test during the Panthers\u2019 preseason slate, which includes an extra exhibition matchup in Canton, Ohio.<\/p>\n

Smith, who grew up in nearby Cincinnati, should have plenty of opportunities to stand out in the Hall of Fame Game (Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. on NBC) against the Arizona Cardinals.<\/p>\n

Read more What polls and fundraising can \u2014 and can\u2019t \u2014 tell us about the midterms in NC | Opinion<\/a><\/p>\n

This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 5:30 AM.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DeVonta Smith went undrafted in April. But the former Alabama and Notre Dame cornerback is out to prove everyone wrong with the Carolina Panthers this summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":63,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nCarolina Panthers rookie wants to prove NFL wrong. 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