Which Carolina Panthers do fans love to hate as the team gets set for a crossroads campaign that could go either way in 2022?
One doesn’t have to look far on social media, podcasts, or message boards to see how fans perceive the Carolina Panthers right now. Many supporters are on the brink regarding the team and its current direction, which makes the 2022 season one of the most important in franchise history.
The Panthers have done everything in their power to put the necessary pieces in place for big-time improvements when competitive action arrives in September. There are obvious concerns, but if Carolina comes together in training camp, then there is an opportunity for a fast start that could lead to something more later in the campaign.
A frustrated fanbase cannot take much more losing football. Attendances at Bank of America Stadium were packed with visiting support more often than not in 2021, which is the clearest sign yet that the paying public does not appreciate the product following so much underachievement.
Without further ado, we picked out four Panthers that fans love to hate ahead of the 2022 season.
Panther No. 1
Cam Erving – Carolina Panthers OL
Cam Erving never really stood a chance with the Carolina Panthers. Those in power shouldn’t ever have identified the underperforming offensive tackle as a priority within hours of the legal tampering period getting underway in 2021 free agency and slotting him as the starting blindside protector came with complications that everyone saw coming but the team itself.
Erving was lackluster and offered nothing in the way of accountability. This saw the former first-round pick become the victim of extreme criticism and his defensive actions in front of the media were far better than anything he ever displayed on the field.
Thankfully, it’s unlikely that Erving will be tasked with starting duties unless injury strikes. The Panthers made vast improvements to their protection this offseason, which was an absolute necessity with so much on the line in 2022.