What are the thinnest position groups on the Carolina Panthers heading into an important 2023 offseason for the organization?
There is a level of excitement surrounding the Carolina Panthers that the team has lacked since Cam Newton was elevating the franchise. Matt Rhule is finally gone and they could be the team to beat in the NFC South with Tom Brady retiring.
The Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints are both in terrible cap situations and the Atlanta Falcons have fewer proven pieces than Carolina. It should be a two-team race and the Panthers have reason to feel they are in the lead.
Frank Reich is clearly a huge upgrade over Rhule, albeit one that Carolina didn’t necessarily have to pay for with Steve Wilks having an understanding of this roster. However, the Panthers significantly improved the head coach in comparison to last season and won’t have a hard time solidifying the quarterback all things considered.
Carolina’s outlook for the 2023 season should be simply 9-12 wins and returning to playoff contention. If that is going to happen, they must find ways to open up more cap space while dealing with a $28 million dead cap sum from Robbie Anderson and Christian McCaffrey alone.
With limited cap space, the Panthers are going to have to be very careful with which position groups to spend on in free agency and in the draft. On this subject, we examined the four weakest depth chart areas Carolina must reinforce heading into the 2023 off-season.
Carolina Panthers must improve at QB
The most important position on the field and the Carolina Panthers’ depth chart currently has just Matt Corral and Jacob Eason under contract. Something that will obviously change as the offseason develops.
Corral is still unknown but looked objectively awful in the preseason before suffering a season-ending injury that denied him a chance to join Carolina’s quarterback carousel. Even if his reps were mismanaged by Matt Rhule during camp.
Eason has a great arm but hasn’t been able to keep the football out of harm’s way or deliver it with enough consistency to become anything more than a backup. The Panthers need to do something drastic at the position after three years of P.J. Walker, Cam Newton, Teddy Bridgewater, Eason, Sam Darnold, and Baker Mayfield all taking turns as the starter.
Newton was clearly set up for failure in his return. Mayfield was a disaster and Darnold was a rollercoaster, to put it mildly. Carolina needs to bring in new faces in free agency and the draft, keeping their eyes on the top draft picks with an open mind to trading up.
Landing a franchise quarterback is obviously the ultimate goal for a team that is desperate for an answer. Something that’s already been discussed at length by general manager Scott Fitterer in recent weeks.
Carolina Panthers could need help at RB
Christian McCaffrey is with the San Francisco 49ers and D’Onta Foreman could hit free agency at the perfect time. If an extension cannot be sorted out, it leaves the Carolina Panthers without a starting running back.
Foreman was the surprise breakout player of the season for Carolina. But paying the veteran back is a huge risk the Panthers must heavily consider with great options in the draft and free agency.
Chuba Hubbard was solid as a backup but is currently the only reliable option Carolina has signed for the 2023 season. However, the performances of Raheem Blackshear when he was scooped off the Buffalo Bills practice squad indicate further improvements could arrive.
Out of his last three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Frank Reich had his offense top ten in rushing attempts in two of those campaigns. This is a trend that might continue in a different environment.
Having a balanced offense is Reich’s philosophy. For that to happen, Carolina needs to add a starting running back and at least one reliable depth option if Foreman departs.
Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs headline this year’s top free-agent running backs, though Carolina’s best path is likely through the draft. Swinging big in free agency at this position is something those in power shouldn’t consider given the recent situation with McCaffrey.
Carolina Panthers need more pass-rushers
There are a number of decisions over the past five years that the Carolina Panthers have made which aged very poorly. Not re-signing Haason Reddick ranks at the very top.
With Reddick leaving the Panthers and helping fuel the Philadelphia Eagles to an NFC title, it was painful to watch for fans who knew they were a piece or two away from dethroning Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers atop the division even with Sam Darnold at quarterback.
Unfortunately, Carolina cannot revise history and will be left searching for edge rushers to help solidify what is a solid defensive core. When the defense was playing hard under Steve Wilks, it became evident the amount of talent they had and the upside moving forward.
The biggest issue with the current defensive roster is a top-edge rusher as well as rotational pieces to further boost their options. It would be surprising not to see Carolina address the position early on in the draft and perhaps with a veteran free agent depending on how much money they can make available.
If Carolina can generate a consistent pass rush in 2023 and keep the core of their secondary, they will be in the division hunt late into the season regardless of who lands at quarterback. This could also take Brian Burns‘ game to new heights ahead of his projected megabucks extension at some stage during the offseason.
Carolina Panthers must get more pass-catchers
The Carolina Panthers need depth at both tight end and wide receiver with nothing but question marks after D.J. Moore. The former first-round pick continues to be one of the league’s most underrated superstars, putting up huge years despite never having an elite passer as his quarterback.
Who is the best quarterback Moore has played with in his career? An injured Cam Newton perhaps, or Sam Darnold down the stretch in 2022. Not exactly world-beating.
Moore badly needs help from both behind him on the depth chart to take the pressure off and the quarterback position. Carolina has the difficult part behind them with a clear star pass catcher, adding depth and impact players around him shouldn’t prove difficult.
Finding consistency from the tight end spot has been something Carolina hasn’t been able to fix since Greg Olsen left. The Panthers don’t need a star, but at the very least needs to add a pass catcher capable of consistently making the easy plays.
Carolina will have plenty of options at the position in the draft and in free agency. There are multiple options that represent clear upgrades within their budget available.
No matter whether the Atlanta Falcons are forced to settle for an average quarterback or land one of the top targets of the off-season, Carolina’s offense badly needs depth after Moore. Adding at least one veteran and a rookie is a reasonable expectation.