Regular-season football is just around the corner. Summer preparations are over, and the Carolina Panthers are now gearing up for their Week 1 showdown with the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium.
It is a big season for the Panthers, coming off their first NFC South championship since 2015. They also have high expectations for success.
This means the pressure is on many of the roster's stars and the franchise's brass, including head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan.
With kickoff in 10 days, let's make some bold predictions for the upcoming season, featuring a push for a major award and dramatic improvement with one of the Panthers' biggest issues.
Bold predictions for the Carolina Panthers during the 2026 season
Carolina Panthers finish 10th in total pressures
As we all know, Carolina had one of the worst pass-rushing units in the NFL last season. This year, with the addition of Jaelan Phillips and growth from second-year outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen, the Panthers have a dramatic increase in total pressures.
The Panthers had only 150 pressures in 2025. In 2026, that number goes up to 225, despite losing Nic Scourton to a torn ACL on the first day of training camp.
This would've been good enough for 10th in the NFL last time around.
Jimmy Horn Jr. leads the team in yards per reception
One of the biggest disappointments from this summer was the loss of rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell II, who was expected to fill the vertical-threat role in the Panthers' offense. A welcome development was the emergence of Jimmy Horn Jr.'s explosiveness and added muscle mass without losing a tick of speed.
Horn becomes a much bigger presence for offensive coordinator Brad Idzik and quarterback Bryce Young than expected. His yards-after-catch ability and speed make him the go-to guy for explosive plays, leading the team in yards per reception at 16.3.
Princely Umanmielen leads the team in sacks
In June, Umanmielen announced he was leaving the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) as he looks to build a breakout campaign. Admittedly, that could be a while. However, I could see a world in which his triumphant return happens sooner than expected.
Not only does the second-year player lead the team in sacks, but Umanmielen's explosiveness and pressure rate also help him reach his first of what could be many Pro Bowls.
Bryce Young finishes top-five in NFL MVP voting, earning massive payday
Some fans may not see this as a bold prediction if they believe in Bryce Young, but there are plenty of detractors. The fourth-year signal-caller enters a critical season with a contract extension on the line.
This year, Young performs some magic late against some of the best teams in the league on their schedule and finally reaches his potential as a No. 1 overall draft pick. His two-to-one touchdown-to-interception ratio, accuracy, and clutch performances lead to a top-five finish in votes for the NFL's Most Valuable Player award.
With that award likely comes incredible success for the Panthers, earning him a new deal with Carolina in the $50 million average annual value range.
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