Panthers to release TE Hayden Hurst, 1 year after signing 3-year deal: Sources

The Carolina Panthers are planning to release Hayden Hurst one year after signing the veteran tight end to a three-year deal, according to league sources briefed on the situation.

The team gave the 30-year-old Hurst the option to take a pay cut to remain on the team, sources said. But Hurst declined and the Panthers are expected to release him before March 16 when Hurst is due to collect a $1.85 million roster bonus, according to Over the Cap.

The Panthers will clear only $52,000 in cap space by cutting Hurst before March 16, with $9.9 million in dead money. But new general manager Dan Morgan and first-year coach Dave Canales are in the process of remaking the roster after last season’s 2-15 finish.

Hurst caught the first touchdown of Bryce Young’s career in a Week 1 loss at Atlanta, but the former South Carolina standout wasn’t featured much in the passing game in subsequent games. Hurst missed the final eight games after sustaining a concussion in a Thursday night game at Chicago. He said after the season he’d been cleared.

Hurst said he thought Young had too many voices in his ear as the No. 1 pick from Alabama struggled through a difficult rookie season, which included and several offensive play-caller changes and the in-season firing of head coach Frank Reich and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown.

“It’ll be good for Bryce to have consistency this offseason,” Hurst said. “One voice to tell what to do and kind of guide him in the right direction.”

Hurst caught 18 passes for 184 yards and one touchdown after signing a three-year deal worth $21.75 million deal last March. In addition to Hurst, tight end Ian Thomas also is believed to be a potential salary cap cut this offseason.

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