Panthers’ Odds to Make the Playoffs Still Listed at +175 After Acquiring Stephon Gilmore – Is There Value?
- The Panthers’ odds of reaching the playoffs remain +175 despite making a significant trade
- Cornerback Stephon Gilmore was acquired from the Patriots for a sixth-round draft pick
- A look at Gilmore’s potential impact on the Panthers can be found below with wagering advice
The Carolina Panthers’ odds of reaching the playoffs remain unchanged even after they acquired the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday.
In a trade with the New England Patriots, the Panthers got cornerback Stephon Gilmore for a sixth-round draft pick in 2023. Gilmore is just two years removed from being the top defender in the league but had become embroiled in a contract dispute with the Patriots.
The Panthers, though, continue to have odds of +175 of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2017. They are given the eighth-best odds among NFC teams, with the top seven reaching the playoffs.
Odd to Make/Miss 2021 NFL Playoffs
| Team | Yes Odds | No Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | -1200 | +750 |
| Green Bay Packers | -500 | +350 |
| Arizona Cardinals | -400 | +300 |
| Los Angeles Rams | -400 | +300 |
| Dallas Cowboys | -350 | +275 |
| Seattle Seahawks | -150 | +120 |
| New Orleans Saints | +105 | -125 |
| Carolina Panthers | +175 | -225 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +200 | -250 |
Odds as of October 6th at DraftKings
Loss Hurts Panthers’ Odds
The Panthers’ average NFL playoff odds were +248 when the season began as they were coming off a 4-11-1 year in 2020. When Carolina won its first three games, that number improved to +124.
However, the odds dropped to +161 following the Panthers’ 36-28 loss to the Cowboys in Dallas last Sunday.
The Panthers allowed Dak Prescott to throw four touchdown passes and Ezekiel Elliott to have his first 100-yard rushing day of the season as he finished with 143 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
RT if you always believed in Dak Prescott
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/YM3r12ftTw
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) October 3, 2021
The Panthers had entered the game leading the NFL in total defense. They had allowed just 135 rushing yards total in their first three games.
Because the running game was so strong, Prescott threw just 22 times and completed 14 for 188 yards.
Adding Reinforcements
The Panthers took a significant step to address their weakness in secondary during this year’s NFL Draft when they selected cornerback Jaycee Horn in the first round with the eighth overall pick from South Carolina.
However, Horn sustained a broken foot in Week 3 in a win over the Houston Texans. His ability to return this season is in doubt.
The Panthers took a step toward filling that hole last week when they traded with the Jacksonville Jaguars for corner CJ Henderson. Though Henderson was the ninth overall pick in 2020, he had fallen out of favor with first-year Jaguars coach Urban Meyer.
Amari Cooper beats newly acquired C.J. Henderson deep for the score.pic.twitter.com/dpSXO0dtpm
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 3, 2021
Henderson played 18 snaps (30%) against the Cowboys and had three solo tackles. So far this season, Pro Football Focus ranks Henderson just 95th among the 108 cornerbacks in the league who have played enough to qualify.
Thus, the Panthers felt they added more depth at the position and decided to deal for Gilmore even they are second in the league in pass defense with 156.5 yards allowed a game.
Gilmore Won’t Help Immediately
Gilmore won’t be able to immediately join the Panthers’ active roster. He is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list while recovering from a quadriceps injury and can’t be activated until after Week 6.
The 31-year-old was limited to 11 games last season because of the injury and missed the final two games after being put on injured reserve. He finished the year with only one interception and three passes defensed.
That came following his stellar 2019 season in which he topped the NFL with six picks and 20 passes defended.
Give Stephen Gilmore DPOY nowpic.twitter.com/us2V9gWx1B
— Going Deep (@goingdeep) November 24, 2019
It is hard to tell how much Gilmore has left in the tank until he gets back on the field. However, he at least is likely to be excited to play for the Panthers, his hometown team.
Gilmore was raised in Rock Hill, SC, about 25 miles from the Panthers’ current headquarters. The four-time Pro Bowl selection now lives in Waxhaw, NC, — just three doors down from Carolina general manager Scott Fitterer.
How Much Does Gilmore Have Left?
The Panthers certainly have a lot of talent at cornerback, even if some of it has never been fully realized in the NFL.
Horn, Henderson and Gilmore were all top-10 draft picks and Donte Jackson was a second-round choice. AJ Bouye has been to a Pro Bowl.
If the Panthers get the 2019 version of Gilmore, then their playoff hopes should certainly rise. However, with not knowing just how much Gilmore has left there isn’t much value in betting on Carolina to reach the postseason.
John Perrotto has been covering and writing about sports for various outlets for over 40 years. His work has appeared in the likes of USA TODAY, ESPN.com, SI.com, Forbes.com, The Associated Press, Baseball Digest, and more. John is based out of Beaver Falls, PA.
