Quarterback

The Panthers won the NFC South in 2025, but they were arguably one of the worst division winners in NFL history. Not only did they have a losing record at 8-9, winning their weak division by default, but they weren’t even as good as their record suggested, as they needed a 7-3 record in games decided by one score to even get to 8-9, despite a weak schedule. In terms of schedule adjusted efficiency, they ranked just 26th and were below average on both sides of the ball, ranking 25th on offense and 20th on defense. The Panthers made significant upgrades to their roster this off-season, spending aggressively in free agency, and they should be a better team, but that might not translate to more wins, as they are starting from a lower base point than their 2025 record suggests.

Quarterback Bryce Young was as mediocre as this team was as a whole. He isn’t as bad as he was during his disastrous start to his career, when he won just 2 of his first 18 career starts and got benched for veteran journeyman Andy Dalton, but even his improved play in 26 starts since getting his job back has resulted in just 62.9% completion, 6.42 YPA, 38 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. Young was the #1 overall pick in 2023 and is still only going into his age 25 season, so he still has a lot of upside, but he would need to take a big step forward in year four in 2026 to even be a decent starting quarterback.

The Panthers parted ways with the aging Dalton behind Young this off-season and replaced him with free agent signing Kenny Pickett. Pickett is also a former first round pick, but he is already on his fifth team in five seasons in the league and, overall, he has completed 62.4% of his passes for an average of 6.19 YPA, 16 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions in 27 career starts. Pickett is also already going into his age 28 season, as he was an old rookie who was drafted in the first round more for his supposed NFL readiness than his upside, so it is unlikely he ever significantly improves. He is not bad as far as backup quarterbacks go, but he isn’t a serious option to take Young’s job and, as mediocre of a starting option as Young is, Pickett would still be a noticeable downgrade if he had to start in case of an injury to Young.

Grade: C+

Offensive Line

Most of the big free agent signings the Panthers made this off-season were on defense, but they also signed Rasheed Walker, the top free agent left tackle. Walker has been a solid starter for the Packers over the past three seasons (48 starts) and should remain one for the Panthers in 2026. Unfortunately, he is not an upgrade over the player he is replacing, Ikem Ekwonu, a solid left tackle in his own right, who is expected to miss most if not all of the 2026 season after tearing his patellar tendon in the post-season last year. A patellar tendon tear is the most serious type of knee tear a player can suffer and even if Ekwonu returns to action this season, he probably will not be a 100% and would probably only return as a reserve, with Walker being added as a replacement.

The Panthers also added an offensive tackle in the first round of the draft, selecting Monroe Freeling. Freeling probably won’t see significant action as a rookie unless there is another injury ahead of him on the depth chart, but Walker was only signed to a 1-year deal, Ekwonu will also be a free agent next off-season, and right tackle Taylor Moton is heading into his age 32 season, so Freeling will start long-term. Moton has been a consistently above average right tackle in his tenure as a starter with the Panthers (128 starts in the past 8 seasons), but at his age there is concern for a potential decline this season, even if he hasn’t started to decline noticeably yet.

The Panthers also will likely get worse play at the center position in 2026 compared to 2025. Cade Mays, who left as a free agent, was a decent starter last season and he will be replaced by free agent signing Luke Fortner. A 3rd round pick by the Jaguars in 2022, Fortner started all 34 games in the first two seasons of his career, but he was one of the worst starting centers in the league, leading to him getting benched ahead of the 2024 season. 

Fortner eventually ended up with the Saints, where he made 10 starts as an injury fill in last season and, while he was better by default than he was in 2022 or 2023, he was still a below average starter, which he is likely to remain in 2026. The Panthers also added center Sam Hecht in the 5th round of the draft and, while he could end up as the starter at some point this season, he is probably not a realistic candidate to start week one and, if he does start at some point as a rookie, he is likely to also be a liability.

The good news is the Panthers will get talented right guard Robert Hunt back from a torn biceps that limited him to two games last season. Hunt is an above average guard when healthy and doesn’t have a significant injury history, missing seven games in five seasons in the league prior to 2025, so he is an obvious bounce back candidate, although his age could be a concern, going into his age 30 season. When healthy and at his best, Hunt forms one of the best guard duos in the league with left guard Damien Lewis, a consistently above average starter in his own right.

Along with the rookie Freeling at tackle and the rookie Hecht at center, depth options for the Panthers on the offensive line include guard Chandler Zavala, a 2023 4th round pick who has struggled across 14 career starts, and Stone Forsythe, a veteran swing tackle with 27 career starts, 13 of which came last season as an injury fill-in with the Raiders, where he was a liability. This offensive line has some concerns, as they figure to get worse play at center than a year ago, while right tackle Taylor Moton and right guard Robert Hunt are on the wrong side of 30, but Hunt should at least be healthier this season than last season, which will be a boost to this line. Overall, this looks like a solid, but unspectacular unit.

Grade: B

Receiving Corps

Things remain relatively similar in the receiving corps for Bryce Young and the Panthers this season. Tetairoa McMillan remains as the obvious #1 receiver and could improve further on the 70/1014/7 slash line and 1.84 yards per route run average that won him Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2025, after being selected 8th overall. No other Panthers receiver had better than a 33/394/3 slash line last season, but Jalen Coker, who had that slash line, did so in only 11 games and should at least be healthier in 2026. 

Coker flashed a lot of potential with a 1.72 yards per route run average as a rookie in 2024, but that fell to 1.37, which isn’t that surprising, as Coker originally went undrafted and did not enter the league with a high upside. Coker has still exceeded the expectations of an undrafted free agent, but he would probably be best as a #3 receiver and is only the Panthers’ likely #2 receiver due to the lack of a better option. Xavier Legette was a first round pick in the same draft class as Coker, but he has been a massive bust, looking more like an undrafted free agent than Coker has. 

On 59 more targets in two seasons in the league, Legette has 12 fewer receiving yards than Coker, while averaging just 1.05 yards per route run. He rightfully seemed to be getting phased out of the offense in favor of Coker down the stretch last season, receiving just 27 targets to 36 for Coker in the final 8 games of last season. Legette still has time to turn it around, but he was overdrafted in the first place, barely producing in college outside of one season when he was 22 years old, so it is not a surprise he has been a bust and I would expect him to continue struggling. 

Legette could get phased even further out of the offense because the Panthers used a 3rd round pick in this year’s draft on Chris Brazzell, who could push Legette for the #3 receiver job at some point this season. Brazzell will probably begin the year as the #4 receiver, which would make him a reserve, along with John Metchie, a second round pick in 2022 who never developed, averaging just 1.02 yards per route run across three different teams, and Jimmy Horn, a 2025 6th round pick who was decent across 148 snaps as a rookie (1.32 yards per route run).

The Panthers also didn’t get much out of their tight ends last season. Tommy Tremble (636 snaps) was their primary tight end, but he only finished with a 27/249/2 slash line on 0.91 yards per route run. A 3rd round pick in 2021, that was actually a career high in receiving yardage for Tremble, who has averaged just 0.79 yards per route run in his career. I wouldn’t expect him to suddenly improve this season. Ja’Tavion Sanders had a role as a passing down specialist at tight end (393 snaps, 242 routes), but he also was underwhelming, with a 29/190/1 slash line and 0.83 yards per route run. A 4th round pick in 2024, Sanders also had a 33/342/1 slash line on 1.09 yards per route run as a rookie. He’s still very young, only going into his age 23 season, so he still has upside, but he has a long way to go to be even an average receiving tight end. 

Ironically, it was 5th round rookie Mitchell Evans, mostly a blocking specialist, who was their most efficient receiver at tight end, with a 19/171/2 slash line on 1.30 yards per route run. He only ran 139 routes, as opposed to 253 blocking snaps, and he might not be as effective in a passing game larger role, but he could have earned himself more playing time in passing situations in 2026. The Panthers’ tight ends have some upside, but they are likely to be an underwhelming bunch in the receiving game again. With Jalen Coker likely to be healthier and Chris Brazzell being added in the draft, the Panthers could get more out of their receivers who aren’t Tetairoa McMillan in 2026, but McMillan figures to still be the clear #1 option and he elevates an otherwise underwhelming receiving corps by himself.

Grade: B

Running Backs

Probably the most impactful player the Panthers lost on offense in free agency was running back Rico Dowdle, who led the team in carries, rushing yards, and touchdowns. Dowdle was brought in originally to backup Chuba Hubbard, who had 250 carries as the lead back in 2024, but when Hubbard missed two games early in the year, Dowdle excelled in his absence and took his job, totaling 155 carries to 81 for Hubbard in the 11 games after Hubbard returned from injury.

Hubbard was pretty good as the lead back in 2024, averaging 4.78 YPC on 250 carries with 3.46 yards per carry after contact, a 54.8% carry success rate, and a 18.4% missed tackle rate. However, that was out of the ordinary for him, as he has averaged 4.15 YPC on 889 carries with 2.90 yards per carry after contact, a 48.9% carry success rate, and a 15.7% missed tackle rate in five seasons in the league. Last season, he averaged just 3.81 YPC on 155 carries with 2.39 yards per carry after contact, a 50.7% carry success rate, and a 9.7% missed tackle rate. I wouldn’t expect him to be as effective in 2026 as he was in 2024, though he will probably be better than he was in 2025. Dowdle will also be missed in the passing game, as he had a 39/297/1 slash line on 1.18 yards per route run, while Hubbard has averaged just 0.85 yards per route run in his career.

The Panthers also lack good, proven depth behind Hubbard, with the only player added to replace Rico Dowdle being veteran free agent AJ Dillon, who has gotten just 15 touches over the past two seasons combined due to injuries and ineffectiveness. Their highest upside option to be Hubbard’s backup is Jonathon Brooks. Brooks was a high risk, high reward pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, as he was a first round talent who tore his ACL in his final collegiate season. The Panthers were cautious with his return and held him out of most of his rookie year, but he still re-tore his ACL after just 9 carries in 3 games upon his return, leading to him missing all of 2025. 

Brooks still has time to turn it around, but it is tough to know what to expect from a player who has barely played in the NFL and who is coming off of back-to-back ACL tears. The Panthers also have 2025 4th round pick Trevor Etienne, who only had 20 carries as a rookie, but could take a step forward and handle a bigger workload in year two. Perhaps the Panthers only signing Dillon in free agency is a sign that they are confident in one or both of their two young, unproven backs. With Hubbard as an underwhelming starter and no good, proven options behind him on the depth chart, this backfield has significant concerns.

Grade: C+

Edge Defenders

As I mentioned, the biggest additions the Panthers made this off-season were on defense. Their biggest addition in terms of salary was edge defender Jaelan Phillips, who they signed to a 4-year, 120 million dollar deal, making him the 9th highest paid edge defender in the league in terms of average annual salary. Phillips was a risky signing with high upside and high downside and the Panthers are paying him as if he will hit his upside, but sometimes you have to overpay to get talent in free agency and Phillips was one of the best available players on the free agent market this off-season.

A first round pick in 2021, Phillips looked on his way to stardom early in his career, totaling 22 sacks, 32 quarterback hits, and a 12.5% pressure rate in 42 games in his first three seasons in the league, but he tore his achilles late in the 2023 season, subsequently suffered a knee injury in 2024 that cost him most of the season, and initially did not seem to be the same player upon his return in 2025, leading to the Dolphins trading him to the Eagles for a third round pick at the trade deadline, rather than extending him ahead of his pending free agency this off-season. 

Phillips started to show his old form down the stretch with the Eagles though and, despite a slow start, finished the 2025 season with 5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and a 17.7% pressure rate, while playing all 17 games. Phillips has a serious injury history dating back to his collegiate days, so he is a big injury risk, but he is also still only in his age 27 season and should remain an above average edge defender as long as he can stay healthy.

Edge defender was a huge position of need this off-season and Phillips will essentially be replacing DJ Wonnum (688 snaps), who left as a free agent after struggling against the run and as a pass rusher last season (8.0% pressure rate), so in that sense it would be hard for Phillips not to help this team, even if he isn’t at his best or misses some time with injury. Phillips will start opposite 2025 2nd round pick Nic Scourton, who was their only decent edge defender as a rookie. Scourton was at his best against the run, but also added 5 sacks, 6 hits, and a 9.7% pressure rate as a rookie and he could take a step forward in year two.

Fellow rookie Princely Umanmielen, selected in the 3rd round in 2025, did not have nearly as good of a rookie year, limited to 222 snaps and struggling both against the run and as a pass rusher (6.5% pressure rate). He could take a step forward in year two, but has a long way to go to even be a decent rotational player. He and veteran Patrick Jones, who missed all but 4 games last season, will be the Panthers’ top reserve edge defenders this season. Jones is a decent run defender, but only has a career pressure rate of 7.9% and now is coming off of a major back injury, so I wouldn’t expect much from him. The addition of Jaelan Phillips upgrades this position group significantly, but he comes with a significant history of injury.

Grade: B- 

Interior Defenders

Some things changed at the interior defender position for the Panthers this off-season, but things aren’t really that different overall. A’Shawn Robinson, who was solid across 658 snaps last season, left as a free agent, but he was replaced by 2nd round pick Lee Hunter, who might not be as good as Robinson, but also has a higher upside. Tershawn Wharton had back surgery this off-season and is expected to miss the start of next season, but he was limited to 9 games by other injuries last season anyway.

Derrick Brown is still by far their best interior defender and one of the best interior defenders in the whole league. A dominant run defender, Brown has also added 13 sacks, 44 hits, and a 7.5% pressure rate in 84 career games, including 5 sacks, 7 hits, and a 7.8% pressure rate in 17 games last season. Brown missed almost all of the 2024 season with injury and was badly missed, but he seemed to be his old self upon his return in 2025 and he has otherwise missed just 1 game in his other five seasons in the league. The 7th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Brown is still in his prime in his age 28 season and should continue playing at a high level in 2026.

When Wharton is on the field, he is a solid pass rusher with a career 7.1% pressure rate, but also a liability against the run. In his absence, Bobby Brown will be the primary reserve behind Derrick Brown and the rookie Lee Hunter. Bobby Brown is kind of the opposite of Wharton, providing solid run defense, but only pressuring the quarterback at a 3.2% rate in his career. Wharton’s absence could also force the Panthers to use LaBryan Ray more and he is both a liability against the run and as a pass rusher (career 2.7% pressure rate). Derrick Brown elevates this position group significantly by himself, but the rest of this group is a concern.

Grade: B

Linebackers

Along with Jaelan Phillips, the other big addition on this defense this off-season is linebacker Devin Lloyd, who the Panthers signed to a 3-year, 42 million dollar deal. He will replace free agent departure Christian Rozeboom, who was a below average every down player last season (823 snaps). Lloyd figures to be a massive upgrade. A first round pick in 2022, Lloyd struggled as a rookie, but has been a well above average player in each of the past three seasons, including a career best year in 2025 when he was a borderline All-Pro caliber player. Still in his prime in his age 28 season, Lloyd should continue playing at a well above average level in 2026, which will be a big boost for this season.

Trevin Wallace remains as the other starter. He played 624 snaps in 12 games last season and was a liability, as he was across 582 snaps as a rookie in 2024. The former third round pick is still only going into his age 23 season and could have further untapped upside, but thus far he has struggled in his career and that could continue in 2026. Claudin Cherelus remains as the top reserve. He went undrafted in 2023 and has only played 365 snaps in his career, but he has shown a little promise in that limited action. He could be deserving of a larger role in 2026, but he would be a projection to that larger role and might struggle. The Panthers also non-tendered him as a restricted free agent this off-season before bringing him back on a cheaper deal, so they don’t seem to value him as more than a backup. Devin Lloyd boosts this group in a big way, but the rest of the bunch is underwhelming.

Grade: B+

Secondary

The strength of this defense last season was their cornerbacks, with both Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson playing at an above average level. Horn, the 8th overall pick in 2021, has been a well above average player throughout his career, with his biggest concern being durability, as he played just 22 games in his first three seasons in the league, but he has been much healthier the past two seasons, only missing three games total and playing at a borderline All-Pro level. 

Still in his prime in his age 26 season, Horn is probably a bigger injury risk than most players, but as long as he is on the field, Horn should continue playing at a similar level. Jackson, on the other hand, is coming off of a career best year in his 7th season in the league and the former 5th round pick might not be able to repeat that performance. Jackson was solid in 2024, so last season didn’t come out of nowhere, but if he plays in 2026 like he did in 2024 rather than how he did in 2025 it will hurt this defense at least a little bit. 

The Panthers also have an above average starter at safety, Tre’Von Moehrig, a 2021 2nd round pick who has played at that level for three straight seasons and should continue to play at that level in 2026, only his age 27 season. Unfortunately, the rest of this secondary looks likely to be a liability. Fellow starting safety Nick Scott wasn’t too bad last season, but he has been a liability as a starter throughout his career and he is now going into his age 31 season, so he figures to be worse in 2026 than he was in 2025. He could be pushed for his starting job by 2025 4th round pick Lathan Ransom, who was decent across 336 snaps as a rookie, but Ransom is still a projection to a larger role and might get exposed if he has to play more than he did as a rookie.

Chau Smith-Wade struggled across 626 snaps as the third cornerback last season, as he did across 301 snaps as a 5th round rookie in 2024. He could have some untapped upside, only going into his age 23 season, but he would have to improve significantly to be even a decent third cornerback and there is no guarantee that happens. He could face competition for his job from Corey Thornton, a 2025 undrafted free agent who briefly flashed potential as a rookie (127 snaps), before breaking his leg, and Will Lee, a 4th round rookie who probably isn’t ready for a significant role in year one. This is still a solid secondary, but their weaknesses are clear.

Grade: B

Kickers

Ryan Fitzgerald won the Panthers’ kicker job last off-season as an undrafted rookie, but unfortunately he was a liability, missing three extra points and only making two of five field goals from 50+ yards, while ultimately costing the Panthers 4.97 points compared to an average kicker. The Panthers didn’t add any competition for him this off-season, suggesting they expect him to get better in his second season in the league, but that is not a guarantee.

Grade: C+

Conclusion

The Panthers got better this off-season, particularly on defense, but they are starting from a lower base point than their 8-9 record from a year ago suggests, as they finished last season 26th in schedule adjusted efficiency. They also face a much tougher schedule this year than a year ago, especially when compared to their division rivals, and ultimately I have them favored in just two games all season on my calculated lines. They will probably win more than just those two games, but they have a tough path to repeating as NFC South champions unless things go far better than expected.

Prediction: 4-13, 4th in NFC South