Examining the Panthers’ roster needs ahead of the NFL draft
CHARLOTTE, N. C. — New Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales didn’t hesitate to take the empty chair next to Andy Reid last week for the annual picture of head coaches at the NFL owners’ meeting.
“Like, he’s my favorite,” Canales said of the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, winner of the past two Super Bowls and three of the past five.
Canales also didn’t hesitate to say the Panthers would compete for the NFC South title this season.
He said this before Carolina signed 31-year-old edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, an important piece in replacing two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns, who was traded to the New York Giants. He said this despite taking over a team coming off an NFL-worst 2-15 record, with eight of those losses by an average of 18.5 points. He said this even though Carolina is tied with the New York Jets for the worst record in the NFL since 2018 (31-68).
“What I’m saying is if we play good football, if we can get the football right like we believe we can, and we can take care of the football, let the numbers take care of themselves, we’ll be in the hunt,” Canales said.
Sitting next to Reid was fitting for Canales, who exudes confidence in everything he does. You could hear it in his voice when he talked about rebuilding a roster that includes 14 new faces, with more to come in the draft.
“I just really feel like as a whole we got better,” Canales said.
Here is a closer look at the roster as Carolina prepares to begin offseason workouts on Monday.
Projected starter: Bryce Young
Backups: Andy Dalton, TBD (veteran expected)
Comment: Adapting to different quarterbacks is a big reason Canales likes Reid so much. Canales has taken the same approach in developing Geno Smith (Seattle) and Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay). The prospect of helping Young rebound from a dreadful rookie season is a big reason why Canales was hired. He has already spent several three-hour dinners getting to know the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 draft.
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Projected starter: Chuba Hubbard
Backups: Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear, Spencer Brown, Tarik Cohen, Mike Boone
Comment: Sanders was a disappointment last season after signing a four-year, $25 million deal. That allowed Hubbard to take over the starting job. Don’t be surprised if Carolina uses a second- or third-day draft pick on a more dynamic back to take the pressure off Young and be a more long-term fix. Canales has made it clear he is dedicated to the run game.
Projected starters: Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen (slot), Jonathan Mingo
Backups: Terrace Marshall Jr., Ihmir Smith-Marsette, David Moore, Mike Strachan, Cam Sims, Jalen Camp
Comment: Adding Johnson via a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers was huge. He ranks as one of the best in the NFL at creating separation, much needed in a receiver group that ranked near the bottom of the league in that category last season. Canales called Johnson’s release “second to none.” Mingo needs to take a big step forward in his second season, but this clearly is an area the Panthers will take a strong look at with one of their two second-round picks.
Projected starter: Tommy Tremble
Backups: Ian Thomas, Stephen Sullivan, Jordan Matthews
Comment: Canales said he has “high regard” for Tremble. Thomas is the best blocker of the group. But Young still needs what Canales called a “jack of all trades” type of tight end, so that’s a target in the draft.
Projected starters: LT Ikem Ekwonu, LG Damien Lewis, C Austin Corbett, RG Robert Hunt, RT Taylor Moton
Backups: Yosh Nijman, Brady Christensen, Chandler Zavala, Cade Mays, Nash Jensen, J.D. DiRenzo, Ricky Lee, llm Manning, Badara Traore
Comment: Adding Hunt and Lewis for a combined $150 million was a huge commitment to giving Young inside protection. Thirty-five of Young’s team-record 62 sacks last season came from the guard or center position. Moving Corbett from guard to center is somewhat of a risk, but Canales believes Corbett will be a good fit to replace Bradley Bozeman. Canales also is counting on improvement from Ekwonu, who gave up 20 sacks on his pass blocks last season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That was the most by any player in the league.
Projected starters: DE Derrick Brown, NT Shy Tuttle, DE A’Shawn Robinson
Backups: LaBryan Ray, Nick Thurman, Raequan Williams
Comment: Adding Robinson opposite Brown is an upgrade that makes this group a strength. Brown emerged last season as one of the best ends/tackles (in a 3-4 system) in the NFL, and he is seeking a long-term extension.
Projected starters: Jadeveon Clowney, D.J. Wonnum
Backups: DJ Johnson, K’Lavon Chaisson, Eku Leota, Amare Barno, Luiji Vilain
Comment: The blow of trading Burns to the Giants for a second- and fifth-round pick was softened by the addition of the 31-year-old Clowney, a three-time Pro Bowler. Clowney won’t be the every-down player Burns was, but in terms of creating pressure, he’s a solid replacement. The Panthers believe Wonnum, who had a career-high eight sacks for the Minnesota Vikings last season, is a rising star. So the combination of Clowney and Wonnum may actually be an upgrade for a defense that ranked last in the NFL with 27 sacks last season.
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Projected starters: Shaq Thompson, Josey Jewell
Backups: Chandler Wooten, Claudin Cherelus
Comment: Losing Frankie Luvu in free agency was lessened by the addition of Jewell, who had a career-best 128 tackles for the Broncos in 2022 under current Carolina defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Adding depth and a future replacement for Thompson, set to turn 30 this month and coming off a broken right fibula, in the draft will be a priority.
Projected starters: Jaycee Horn, Dane Jackson, Troy Hill (nickel)
Backups: Dicaprio Bootle, Lamar Jackson, D’Shawn Jamison, AJ Parker
Comment: There have been talks about adding five-time Pro Bowler Stephon Gilmore, who played with Clowney in high school and college, as a free agent. Keeping 2021 first-round pick Horn healthy will be key. Adding Jackson, a player who general manager Dan Morgan was high on as a prospect when he was director of player personnel with the Buffalo Bills, is a solid replacement for Donte Jackson (traded to Steelers as part of the Johnson deal).
Projected starters: Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller
Backups: Nick Scott, Alex Cook, Jammie Robinson
Comment: Adding Fuller, who played for Evero with the Los Angeles Rams, was a solid pickup to replace Vonn Bell (released). Scott, another Evero disciple, will provide decent depth.
Placekicker: Eddy Pineiro
Punter: Johnny Hekker
Deep snapper: JJ Jansen
Comment: This group is as solid as they come. Jansen was brought back for his 16th season. His 243 games played is already a team record.