Which positions must the Carolina Panthers upgrade this offseason to stand any chance of progression in 2023?
After the Carolina Panthers started off the season 1-4, Matt Rhule was fired and Steve Wilks became the interim head coach. Under his leadership, the franchise went on to have a record of 6-6, finishing the campaign 7-10.
The team was in the thick of winning the division until their Week 17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Carolina made strides and established an identity with their tough offensive line and ability to pound the rock in the run game. Defensively, the Panthers were solid as well.
With that being said, there are still a few holes the Panthers must upgrade in order to make that playoff leap in 2023.
Whoever the head coach is in 2023 will want to make significant improvements to the following four positions.
Position No. 1
Carolina Panthers must upgrade LB spot
The Carolina Panthers have been hurting for a middle linebacker since the great Luke Kuechly retired. Their acquisition of Denzel Perryman in 2021 was short-lived after he was traded for a sixth-round pick. He then would go on to make the Pro Bowl with the Las Vegas Raiders that season.
Damien Wilson was slated to be the man in the middle in 2022 but didn’t receive many snaps. In 2023, the Panthers need to find their guy for the future to be a leader of their defense going forward.
As mentioned previously, the linebacker position could be addressed in the upcoming draft in either the second or third round. The team’s next middle linebacker could also be solved during free agency, even though the Panthers probably wouldn’t find their franchise player if they decided to take that avenue.
Carolina Panthers must upgrade QB spot
Once again, the quarterback position was a carousel in 2022 for the Carolina Panthers, starting with Baker Mayfield and P.J. Walker, finally settling on Sam Darnold, who actually looked pretty decent.
Considering this, whoever the new Panthers head coach is shouldn’t settle for Darnold in 2023. An upgrade is necessary for this team to take the next step in making the playoffs.
The Panthers’ most logical solution for upgrading the quarterback position is the traditional way through the draft. Their pick is at No. 9 in the first round, but they also have several high-end selections if they were interested in trading up to get their guy.
When it comes to upcoming free agents, Lamar Jackson is a big name. However, the Baltimore Ravens will most likely extend or franchise tag their star player.
If Jackson were available, Carolina should be all in for him. Geno Smith could be an option as he led the Seattle Seahawks to an improbable playoff appearance and led the entire NFL in completion percentage. Although it’s rumored he will receive an extension.
As far as Derek Carr goes, Carolina has tried the veteran quarterback acquisition the last three seasons and it hasn’t played out well for them.
Once 2023 rolls around, Matt Corral will be in his second season after missing his entire rookie campaign with a Lisfranc injury. He should have as big of a shot as anyone to be the team’s starting quarterback and is the only one under contract for next year currently.
Darnold wasn’t bad in 2022, but he’s not the long-term answer. With a new head coach coming in, they will have their pick of the signal caller.
Carolina Panthers must upgrade TE spot
The Carolina Panthers have needed a pass-catching tight end since Greg Olsen’s exit. Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas provide excellent service when it comes to blocking, but they offer very little when it comes to providing assistance in the passing game.
Tremble and Thomas received the Panthers’ two lowest offensive grades for the 2022 season according to Pro Football Focus. This is primarily down to their lack of impact catching the football.
The former Notre Dame standout produced 19 receptions with 174 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2022. Thomas tallied 21 catches for 197 receiving yards and no scores.
If general manager Scott Fitterer looks to add via free agency there are several intriguing options. Mike Gesicki, Dalton Schultz, or Evan Engram immediately spring to mind, with Irv Smith Jr. emerging as another tempting proposition despite his recent injury struggles.
Any of those options would be an upgrade when it comes to the passing game. Although it would be worth Thomas sticking around for his elite blocking.
With Fitterer getting more say in personnel moves without Matt Rhule, a trade could also arise at any time to address the team’s need for a tight end.
Carolina Panthers must upgrade DE spot
It’s no secret that the Carolina Panthers need another pass rusher to pair with Pro Bowler Brian Burns. Yetur Gross-Matos tallied only 2.5 sacks in 2022 while Marquis Haynes had five from a rotational position on the depth chart.
Losing Hasson Reddick in the 2021 offseason hurt big time. A decision that stings much more after the edge presence put up monster numbers this season with his home team, the Philadelphia Eagles.
It would have been tough to sign Reddick for the amount he received from the Eagles. But he is currently playing up to his salary for sure and looks like a tremendous bit of business by Philadelphia’s front office.
This offseason is the exact time Carolina must find their long-term pass rusher opposite of Burns. Anything else would be malpractice by the new coaching regime.
They could opt to select an edge rusher in either the first, second, or even third round of the upcoming NFL Draft. It’s likely that they will draft a promising pass-rusher at some point in the since it’s a position of extreme need for 2023.
There could be a potential free agent signing. But it would most likely not be a big splash signing due to limited cap space.