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Panthers won’t add a veteran cornerback, for now

Wells Fargo Championship - Preview Day 3

CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 04: Carolina Panthers head coach, Ron Rivera in the pro-am ahead of the 2016 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club on May 11, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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The Panthers lost cornerback Josh Norman after removing the franchise tag and seeing him sign with Washington. The Panthers have replaced him, so far, with three draft picks. That’s the extent of the plan, at least for now.

Coach Ron Rivera said Saturday that the Panthers currently don’t plan to add a veteran at the position.

“I guess if we did do something it would be later on. But right now we’re set,” Rivera said Saturday, via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. “We’re very happy with what we’ve seen the last two practices with the young guys.”

Although the trio of rookies has done well so far at rookie minicamp, they can’t really compete until training camp comes.

“The big part of the technique you get from corners is being able to jam, and you can’t do that during OTAs and minicamp,” Rivera said. “So what we’ll be looking for really is the skill sets.”

That could be the point at which the Panthers consider any available veterans -- if any quality veterans are available then. For now, the top candidates are Antonio Freeman and Leon Hall. Others could become available via trade or free agency, based on future developments in other minicamps, OTAs, and/or training camps.