CHARLOTTE – With the salary cap being as tight as it is in 2021, having younger, cheaper alternatives is going to be the preference.

So since the Panthers found some acceptable alternatives last year, they’re going to stick with the savings.

On Friday, they released defensive end Stephen Weatherly and punter Michael Palardy, opening the door for some second-year players to grow into roles.

Combined with this week’s release of veteran defensive tackle Kawann Short, the Panthers have carved around $16.4 million worth of space off the cap.

Teams were informed this week that the floor for the 2021 salary cap would be $180 million (up from previous guidance of $175 million). But that’s still down substantially from last year’s $198.2 million limit, causing teams around the league to make multiple cuts already.

Weatherly was signed as a free