CAROLINA PANTHERS

OFF SEASON CHANGES

It’s quite a weak division and the Panthers front office clearly thinks they can go back to back winning it. They signing edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd, plus drafted tackle Monroe Freeling with pick 19 in the first round. They’ll get a big boost with the return of running back Jonathon Brooks who has missed most of his first two NFL seasons with injury. The team has remained largely the same otherwise with Carolina hoping Bryce Young can improve again.

QUATERBACKS

Bryce Young was 28th among 33 qualified quarterbacks in EPA per play last season, his third straight season in the bottom half at the position since entering the league in 2023. The jury remains out on the former No. 1 pick but he did show flashes of his ability at times last year. The 448-yard, 3 TD performance against Atlanta mid-season was impressive. The addition of first round pick Monroe Freeling at OT should give Bryce Young some more time to throw, which can only help. If he can take another leap this year with an improved receiving corps, the Panthers should be competitive again. The AFC South looks like one of the weaker divisions this year so they are definitely a chance for playoffs again.

RUNNING BACKS

Chuba Hubbard leads a run-heavy offense that should benefit from a healthier, more physical offensive line addition in first-round pick Monroe Freeling protecting Young up front this season. Hubbard recorded 511 rushing yards last season but lost the starting job to Rico Dowdle at some points of the season. Hubbard should be better this year but he needs to compete with former second-round pick Jonathon Brooks who is fully healthy. Brooks missed most of his first two seasons in the NFL but is a really good back and I actually expect him to lead the backfield eventually if he can stay healthy. This is one to keep an eye on.

RECEIVERS

Tetairoa McMillan emerged as Young's clear No. 1 target as a rookie, soaking up 25.4% of the team's targets, though he'll need more consistency to become a true difference-maker at the position. Jalen Coker leap-frogged Xavier Legette down the stretch last season, running 155 routes to Legette's 110 after Carolina's Week 14 bye, and ranked 55th among qualified receivers in yards per route run compared to Legette's 80th-place finish over that span. The Panthers also added speedster Chris Brazzell in the third round of the draft, however he suffered an ACL injury in training camp and will miss the entire season. This remains a passing attack defined more by its running game and defense than its receiver room, but the internal pecking order at wideout finally sorted itself out by season's end.

DEFENCE

Carolina was 31st in pressure rate and 27th in sack rate last year, real problems that Phillips, fifth in pressure rate among qualified rushers last season, and Lloyd now directly address up front and at linebacker. Carolina's defense was 20th in yards allowed per play and 23rd in points allowed per drive last season, real problems beyond just a weak pass rush. The additions of Jaelan Phillips, fifth in pressure rate among qualified rushers a year ago, and linebacker Devin Lloyd, a second-team All-Pro after a career year in Jacksonville, should push this unit meaningfully into the top half of the league this season.