The Carolina Panthers have a lot riding on this season. Not just their on-field performance, but the financial implications are now sailing pretty close to the wind after some significant investments throughout general manager Dan Morgan's tenure.
Carolina got compliant with the salary cap by restructuring Tershawn Wharton's contract. Even so, they remain in a precarious situation moving forward.
The Panthers have a projected $7.42 million in available cap space next year, with just 38 players under contract. This means sacrifices are inevitable, and several established professionals will be fighting to remain in the team's plans.
With that in mind, here are five Panthers cut candidates who cannot falter during a critical 2026 campaign.
Carolina Panthers cut candidates who cannot afford to put a foot wrong in 2026
Bobby Brown III, DL
With Wharton out until further notice, Bobby Brown III looks set to start at one of the 3-4 defensive end positions to begin the campaign. A lot is riding on his efforts.
Brown flashed promise but nothing more during his first year in Carolina. He has the physical tools to be more dominant, so showcasing that throughout the campaign cannot be overstated.
Should Brown fluff his lines, the $8 million in savings attached to his early release would be pretty tempting.
Chuba Hubbard, RB
The Panthers will once again be depending heavily on veteran running back Chuba Hubbard this season. Jonathon Brooks should be ready for a bigger role if he can finally stay healthy, but the Oklahoma State product will be tasked with setting the correct tone.
Hubbard had a down year in 2025. He wasn't 100 percent healthy early on and lost his starting spot to Rico Dowdle. The 2021 fourth-round pick got it back at the business end of the campaign, but he must prove that his performance regression was a blip rather than the start of anything more concerning.
If not, the Panthers could cut Hubbard and save $5.99 million in cap space.
Tre'von Moehrig, S
The Panthers got precisely what they needed from Tre'von Moehrig last season. Expectations were high after Carolina splashed the cash on the tone-setting safety in free agency, and he more than lived up to his billing.
Moehrig was highly impactful, especially closer to the line of scrimmage. Some coverage deficiencies remain, but it was an encouraging first season overall.
Keeping his foot on the throttle is crucial. Moehrig is set to cost $22.5 million against the cap in 2027. That is top-end safety money, so top-level performances are required, with $16.5 million in savings if the team releases him.
Tershawn Wharton, DL
Wharton's situation might be past the point of no return. The Panthers' decision to restructure his contract doesn't change that.
It was an injury-hit campaign for the defensive lineman in 2025, his first with the franchise. And just when it looked like everything was pointing up, a neck injury that required surgery put him on the shelf until further notice.
Wharton's return has no timeline. The Panthers are short of dependable options in the defensive trenches, so the sooner he gets back, the better. At the same time, neck injuries are no joke, so Carolina will be taking every possible precaution.
Either way, Wharton's future in Carolina looks incredibly bleak. Releasing him with a post-June 1 designation saves the Panthers $14.8 million on their 2027 cap, which could probably be better spent elsewhere.
Damien Lewis, OL
This is the least likely, and for good reason.
Damien Lewis has been a formidable asset on Carolina's interior offensive line, but Morgan has made moves for the future as he looks for younger, cheaper options.
Monroe Freeling was their first-round pick. The Panthers also drafted center Sam Hecht in the fifth round, who could have a long-term role to play. Whether this trend continues next offseason remains to be seen, but Carolina should think twice about making Lewis surplus to requirements.
If anything, another strong campaign from Lewis should lead the Panthers to give him a new deal early. That will lower the cap number, at least in the short term.
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