SPARTANBURG – Carolina had a big question mark at free safety all offseason. Now, a week into training camp, they have an answer.
The Panthers signed free agent safety Tre Boston to a one-year contract on Thursday, reuniting with their former fourth-round pick. To make room on the roster, Carolina waived tight end Ethan Wolf.
The Panthers drafted Boston out of North Carolina back in 2014 and he started 16 games in three seasons with the team before being released in 2017. During that span, he recorded five total interceptions (three in the regular season and two in the postseason).
He spent the 2017 season with the Chargers, recording a career-high five interceptions and eight passes defensed as a full-time starter. He was with the Cardinals in 2018, posting three interceptions and nine pass breakups along with a career-high 85 tackles. His eight picks over the last two years tie him for third-most among all safeties in that span.
Now the 27-year-old is back where his NFL career began. And he could be the missing piece to a defense that has been revamped this offseason.
View some of the best images of safety Tre Boston from his first stint in Carolina from 2014-16.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
This is a 2016 photo of of the Carolina Panthers NFL football team. This image reflects the 2016 active roster as of May 12, 2016 when this images was taken. (AP Photo)
This is a 2016 photo of of the Carolina Panthers NFL football team. This image reflects the 2016 active roster as of May 12, 2016 when this images was taken. (AP Photo)
This is a 2016 photo of of the Carolina Panthers NFL football team. This image reflects the 2016 active roster as of May 12, 2016 when this images was taken. (AP Photo)
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at the Mercedes Benz Super Dome in New Orleans, LA.
Carolina Panthers practice on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers play against the Seattel Seahawks on Sunday, October 18, 2015.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints in Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Seattel Seahawks on Sunday, October 18, 2015.
Carolina Panthers play against the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Sunday, November 27, 2016 in Oakland, CA.
Carolina Panthers practice on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers play against the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Sunday, November 27, 2016 in Oakland, CA.
Carolina Panthers play against the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Sunday, November 27, 2016 in Oakland, CA.
Carolina Panthers play against the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Sunday, November 27, 2016 in Oakland, CA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
This is a 2016 photo of of the Carolina Panthers NFL football team. This image reflects the 2016 active roster as of May 12, 2016 when this images was taken. (AP Photo)
Carolina Panthers play against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on Monday, December 19, 2016 in Landover, MD.
Carolina Panthers play against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on Monday, December 19, 2016 in Landover, MD.
Make-A-Wsh with the Athletic Trainers of the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, October 28, 2014.
Carolina Panthers practice during the sixth day of Training Camp on Saturday, Aug.5, 2015.
Carolina Panthers practice at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Wednesday, September 10, 2014.
Carolina Panthers practice on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers practice on Wednesday, October 7, 2015.
Carolina Panthers practice on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers practice on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 in Charlotte, NC at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers practice on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers practice on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers practice at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers practice on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 in Charlotte, NC at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers practice at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers practice at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers practice on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers practice on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 in Charlotte, NC at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina Panthers play against the Seattel Seahawks on Sunday, October 18, 2015.
Carolina Panthers Denver Broncos Super Bowl 50 Levi's Stadium Santa Clara, CA Sunday, February 7, 2016
