The Carolina Panthers may have suffered a heartbreaking playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round, but fans left proud. Head coach Dave Canales' squad gave it absolutely everything, giving a leading Super Bowl challenger all they could handle before coming up short.
Nobody expected the Panthers to make it into the knockout rounds. Nobody expected them to win eight games. Their performances were inconsistent, but this organization is finally on the right path to prosperity after years of languishing among the bottom feeders.
Now, general manager Dan Morgan needs to keep this momentum going. It's his third offseason at the helm, and the right acquisitions can help the Panthers get a lot closer to achieving their objective. Doing that through the draft remains his preferred approach. At the same time, nothing should be completely dismissed if the former linebacker believes it can help take this rising franchise forward positively.
There are some outstanding young pieces to build around. Some position groups look weaker than others, but this won't go unnoticed by Morgan and others in the decision-making process. And this all starts by deciding the fate of Carolina's pending free-agent class.
Some will get a reprieve, but not everyone will come along for the ride. With this in mind, here are seven Panthers players who definitely won't be back in 2026.
Carolina Panthers players who definitely won't be back in 2026
LaBryan Ray - Carolina Panthers DL
One of the biggest reasons why the Carolina Panthers made strides this season was the upgrades to their defensive front.
Pro Bowl lineman Derrick Brown's return from injury couldn't have gone much better. Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III proved to be shrewd additions. A'Shawn Robinson performed better with a much-improved supporting cast. Rookie Cam Jackson flashed promise when his number was called. This represents an outstanding building block — one the Panthers will rely on heavily again in 2026.
What that means for the rest of the team's future is anyone's guess. But for one lineman buried on the depth chart, this might be a good time to pursue other opportunities.
LaBryan Ray has been around the Panthers for a while without ever truly establishing himself. The Alabama product logged 19 percent of defensive snaps from 13 games this season, mainly due to injuries. Keeping him around on another short-term deal seems feasible, but that shouldn't prevent Morgan from finding an upgrade to further bolster depth.
Trevis Gipson - Carolina Panthers OLB
Adding to the team's pass-rush this offseason should be among general manager Dan Morgan's top priorities. There are a couple of bright spots, but if the Carolina Panthers want to continue their encouraging upward trajectory, adding a difference-maker on the edge is absolutely essential.
The Panthers have invested in the room, signing Patrick Jones II in free agency and trading up twice on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft for Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen. They were made to reshuffle the pack when injuries struck, with Trevis Gipson coming in as a short-term, band-aid solution a little lower down the depth chart.
Gipson was signed off the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad and flashed some promise when his number was called. He also managed a sack in the wild-card game, so the Panthers could decide to offer him another short-term extension to see if further development can arrive.
But if they prioritize reinforcements, he'll be free to take his chances elsewhere.
Akayleb Evans - Carolina Panthers CB
When the Panthers needed to prevent the Los Angeles Rams from reaching the end zone down the stretch, quarterback Matthew Stafford picked them apart. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero was criticized for his conservative approach, but not having two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn in the lineup forced the issue.
Horn was being evaluated for a concussion at the worst possible time. Akayleb Evans came in to replace him, and the downgrade was glaring. If Evero had any sort of trust in the veteran, he would have been more aggressive. That wasn't the case, and with the Panthers failing to generate any consistent pressure on Stafford, the NFL MVP candidate got whatever he wanted.
Evans played just five defensive snaps in 16 games this season. He was more active on special teams, but that shouldn't prevent the Panthers from pursuing an upgrade if the right opportunity presents itself.
Nick Scott - Carolina Panthers S
Nick Scott remains a polarizing figure among the Panthers' fan base. They were perplexed by his contract extension during the offseason, and even more infuriated when he got the starting safety job opposite free-agent signing Tre'von Moehrig. It was a turbulent start for the veteran, but he improved as the campaign progressed.
Scott has the complete trust of Ejiro Evero, who spent time working with the player during their stint with the Los Angeles Rams. He's a strong communicator, but teams often exposed him as a weak link.
The Los Angeles Rams did precisely that in their narrow wild-card triumph at Bank of America Stadium. That's a problem, but now that Evero's future is secure after signing an extension last year, he'll likely vouch hard for Scott to remain part of the team's plans.
However, the Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons also want to speak with Evero about their head-coaching vacancies. If he gets a top job elsewhere, Scott could join him.
David Moore - Carolina Panthers WR
The Carolina Panthers' youth movement in the wide receiver room has made Jalen Coker and Tetairoa McMillan a legitimate 1-2 punch for quarterback Bryce Young to depend on. Xavier Legette's development remains a concern, and Jimmy Horn Jr.'s crucial drop in the wild-card round showcased how much hard work is ahead for the sixth-round pick.
David Moore was the experienced figure in the unit, although he spent much of the season's second half on the shelf. He's a trusted associate of head coach Dave Canales, having worked together at two previous stops before linking back up in Carolina. He's also a valued special-teams presence, but the Panthers have Brycen Treymayne for that now if he is extended.
The stakes are enormously high for Young in Year 4 of his professional career. That makes finding a proven pass-catcher crucial to complement what the Panthers already have. If this scenario comes to fruition, Moore might be on the outside looking in.
D.J. Wonnum - Carolina Panthers OLB
As previously mentioned, the Panthers need a rethink of their edge-rushing room. Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen showed promise as rookies. Patrick Jones II's presence was sorely missed when he went down with a back injury. Then there's the complex situation involving D.J. Wonnum to factor in.
Wonnum was tasked with being a disruptor, but in a different way. The South Carolina product set the edge against the run well, freeing up space for others. He was often dropped back in coverage, limiting his impact in pass-rushing situations.
A lot of Wonnum's good work didn't show up on the stat sheet. However, if the Panthers are planning on finding an explosive game-wrecker on the edge to take Ejiro Evero's defense up a notch, he might be the one who makes way.
Considering the money Wonnum may be looking for in another deal, general manager Dan Morgan should try to find something better at a lower price.
Rico Dowdle - Carolina Panthers RB
The Panthers and Rico Dowdle got what they wanted out of their one season together. Carolina received outstanding overall production for a low price. The running back got the opportunity to enhance his stock before embarking on another free agency this spring.
Dowdle took the Panthers by storm when finally given a chance to shine. Chuba Hubbard struggled with an injury early on, and the South Carolina product seized the moment en route to becoming the starter.
That was immensely positive, and he did manage to go over 1,000 rushing yards. Still, his limited reps down the stretch and into the playoffs perplexed a player who freely admitted that he needs volume to thrive.
Nothing has been confirmed for sure. Dowdle said he would take his decreased involvement into consideration before deciding on his next move. The Panthers also know he was far less impactful over the second half of 2025, so it would be surprising if another deal arrived.