Signed to a one-year deal last offseason, Bouye appeared in 10 games for the Panthers, starting seven, and broke up three passes while earning solid coverage marks from Pro Football Focus. The move cleared over $3.4 million in cap space for the Panthers.

Suspended the first two games of the season, Bouye is dealing with an undisclosed soft-tissue injury. The Panthers did not have to disclose it since they have yet to technically activate the corner. He should be ready for Week 4 with 10 more days rest. 

The terms of the deal weren't made available when the Panthers signed the former Bronco last week. Bouye, soon to be 30, will be suspended for the first two games of the 2021 season, but should work his way into Carolina's starting lineup soon thereafter. The former Pro Bowler missed much of the 2020 season with a shoulder injury. 

The Niners continue their game of eight-dimensional chess in the lead-up to the NFL Draft. NBC Sports' Peter King said Monday that Lynch and Shanahan are intent on "fact finding" in the weeks before the draft. It's hard to imagine how many more facts there are to find about the draft's top QBs. Widely expected to take Alabama's Mac Jones after obtaining the No. 3 pick, Shanahan and Lynch are committed to erecting as many smoke screens as possible. If the Niners pass on Fields with the third pick, he's almost assuredly going to be selected in the top-10. Fields and Lance, both dual threat quarterbacks, have far more fantasy appeal than Jones.