The offseason is far from over, but we’re starting to get a clearer picture of what teams are going to look like when they report to camp in a couple of months. We still have the draft that will drastically reshape parts of the roster, but we’re still at a good point to see what the Carolina Panthers are looking like so far. They’ve spent big money in free agency to shore up their most pressing issues, and that makes this depth chart look quite a bit better on paper. Let’s dive into it.
Offense
Quarterback
Bryce Young,
Kenny Pickett
Andy Dalton gets left off the list. He’s still on the roster right now, but the organization seems set on going younger in the quarterback room. There’s a chance he sticks around as a veteran mentor, but I’d be surprised if the Panthers elect to use a roster spot on that role at this point in Young’s career.
Running back
Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks, Trevor Etienne
Hubbard split time with Rico Dowdle last season after the latter had a couple of breakout performances. As the year went on and Hubbard got healthy, it became clear who the better back and culture fit was. Dowdle has departed for Pittsburgh, so this is Hubbard’s backfield once again. Hopefully Brooks can finally stay healthy and return to the dynamic runner that made him so appealing in the draft a couple of years ago.
Wide Receiver
Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, John Metchie III, Jimmy Horn Jr., David Moore, Brycen Tremayne
There’s a chance this room gets another shakeup before all is said and done. Legette has been a tremendous disappointment through his first two seasons and has been wholly supplanted on the depth chart by McMillan and Coker. It would seem a more natural deep threat would be a better fit in three wide sets, but that guy isn’t on the roster yet, unless Jimmy Horn Jr. breaks out in camp.
Tight End
Tommy Tremble, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Mitchell Evans, James Mitchell
This tight end group is very fluid, especially among the top three. Sanders flashed potential in his rookie season but fell off the face of the planet in his second. Mitchell Evans also showed promise in his rookie season and might be the frontrunner to lock down the starting spot long term should the Panthers not add anyone else. Tommy Tremble has been the most steady eddy of the group and while he’s no world beater, he’s become a fixture at this spot. This is another position group that could see a big addition in the draft.
Offensive Line
Rasheed Walker, Damien Lewis, Luke Fortner, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton, Ikem Ekwonu, Chandler Zavala, Stone Forsythe, Nick Samac
The health of Ikem Ekwonu makes all the difference with this group after he tore his patellar tendon in the playoff loss to the Rams. The Panthers hedged against his recovery by signing Rasheed Walker, widely regarded as the best tackle to hit the open market. Cade Mays departed for the Lions and Yosh Nijman retired, so the depth of this group is suddenly looking pretty perilous.
Defense
Defensive Line
Derrick Brown, Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown III, LaBryan Ray, Cam Jackson
A’Shawn Robinson’s release is a hit to this group’s depth, but the starters look pretty solid. Derrick Brown should anchor the group like always, and Wharton and Brown are above average-ish players for their position. I’d like to see more young depth here, but there are only so many places where Dan Morgan can do that.
Edge
Jaelan Phillips, Nic Scourton, Patrick Jones II, Princely Umanmielen, Trevis Gipson
The Panthers struck quickly in free agency to make sure they got their guy in Jaelan Phillips. He should be a disruptive force the Panthers haven’t had since they bungled the Brian Burns situation and traded him away. Nic Scourton is an ascending threat, and the rotation actually looks pretty solid on the whole. We might get to watch a Panthers team that’s capable of pressuring the quarterback for the first time in a while.
Linebacker
Devin Lloyd, Trevin Wallace, Claudin Cherelus, Bam Martin-Scott, Isaiah Simmons
As was the case with Phillips, the Panthers splurged in free agency to try to strengthen one of their biggest weaknesses. Lloyd should completely reshape the capabilities of the linebacker group and ease some of the pressure on Wallace, who’s been up and down in his two seasons. The depth is okay and has some experience getting pressed into spot duty, and all three of the listed backups are plus special teamers.
Safety
Tre’von Moehrig, Nick Scott, Lathan Ransom, Demani Richardson
I know everyone is elated to see the return of Nick Scott, who will reprise his role on the back end with Tre’von Moehrig. Lathan Ransom will probably get a little more time on the field in his second season, and Richardson is a solid depth piece. There’s a chance the Panthers infuse this group with some more talent in the first few rounds of the draft.
Cornerback
Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, Chau Smith-Wade, Corey Thornton, Robert Rochell, Akayleb Evans
Horn and Jackson form one of the most formidable one-two punches at corner in the whole NFL. After them, ehhhh. The Panthers haven’t devoted many resources to improving this group after those two for a couple of seasons now, and I’m not sure what the plan is going into 2026.
Specialists
Kicker:: Ryan Fitzgerald
Punter: Sam Martin
Long snapper: JJ Jansen
Ryan Fitzgerald seems poised to build off a promising rookie season. The Panthers also made sure to retain his peers in the specialist group. JJ Jansen basically has a lifetime contract with Carolina as one of the most reliable long snappers in the NFL. Martin had a solid first season in Carolina and earned himself another two year contract.
