For the second time this season, former Miami standout Brad Kaaya has been released:
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Kaaya was reportedly claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers hours after being cut by the Detroit Lions, sources confirmed to ESPN's Field Yates. He was released from the Panthers Tuesday morning.
Kaaya, who was selected by Detroit in the sixth-round of the 2017 NFL Draft, was originally a casualty of the NFL's 53-man roster cut deadline, which isn't a surprise given the franchise's recent pricey investment in starting quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Entering his final season at Miami, Kaaya gained plenty of attention from NFL scouts and analysts, including Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated, who pegged the former Hurricane as the No. 1 overall pick in his mock draft back in May of 2016.
Here's what Burke said at the time. This was written before the 2016 season, mind you.
"There is no question that Deshaun Watson will be a Heisman favorite this season, off his brilliant 2015. There's also little question that, on paper, Kaaya—who is 6? 4? and plays in a pro-style scheme—better fits the NFL prototype."
Kaaya threw for 3,532 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2016. Despite solid numbers, he fell to the later rounds of the draft and now needs to earn a spot on Carolina's roster behind Cam Newton and Derek Anderson.
We'll now see if Kaaya is able to land elsewhere.
