The Carolina Panthers are officially embarking on the 2025 off-season after concluding their regular-season engagements with a dramatic overtime victory at the Atlanta Falcons. There is a lot of hard work ahead to get this franchise on sounder footing.
General manager Dan Morgan will assess what went right, what went wrong, and what more is needed to get the Panthers into NFC South title contention. Head coach Dave Canales saw growth in his squad over the second half of 2024. They also have a franchise quarterback on their hands after a remarkable turnaround from Bryce Young.
That allows Morgan extra freedom to focus on other position groups in pursuit of progression. There's also the small matter of what to do with current playing personnel before attention turns to recruitment.
Morgan needs to determine who's worth keeping around, who can be let go ahead of time, and who is free to seek alternative employment when free agency rolls around. Some decisions will be easier than others, but it's all part of the ruthless business at this time of year.
With this in mind, here are 10 Panthers players who probably won't be back in 2025. We'll start with veteran quarterback Andy Dalton.
Carolina Panthers players who won't be back in 2025
Andy Dalton - Carolina Panthers QB
Bryce Young is the future. His dazzling performance in Week 18 confirmed that. Head coach Dave Canales gave him a supreme vote of confidence following the triumph — something the Carolina Panthers are going to build around rather than replace this offseason.
There's just no telling how things would have gone if Andy Dalton hadn't been involved in an unfortunate car accident. He was the starter and Canales trusted him more at the time. That's not the case anymore.
Dalton feels like he can still be a starter. This isn't the strongest quarterback class emerging from the college ranks, so an opportunity to compete for a No. 1 spot could arise in free agency. The Panthers have Young, so there is no need to overpay for a backup.
If Dalton accepts his fate as a mentor and understudy at this late stage of his career, he could get another short-term deal. But his competitive fire suggests a new challenge is on the immediate horizon.
Ian Thomas - Carolina Panthers TE
Ian Thomas is one of the Carolina Panthers' longest-serving players. He's seen four permanent head coaches and three interim hires. The veteran tight end was fortunate to get another contract when his rookie deal expired. That's unlikely to be the case this spring.
Thomas impressed enough during the offseason for the Panthers to keep him around. Unfortunately for the former fourth-round selection out of Indiana, things followed a similar script when competitive action began.
The Panthers didn't utilize Thomas much in the passing game. His blocking became ineffective and he suffered more injury complications to further diminish his influence. Even though other tight ends have also failed to reach their billing, that doesn't do his chances of another extension any good whatsoever.
Carolina and Thomas will go their separate ways when the campaign concludes. He had countless to firmly establish himself after Greg Olsen's departure and couldn't deliver. He's only got himself to blame.
Dane Jackson - Carolina Panthers CB
Dan Morgan had a big say in Dane Jackson being drafted by the Buffalo Bills. The general manager jumped at the chance to sign him in free agency when the AFC East team let the cornerback test the market.
Jackson was expected to start opposite newly crowed Pro Bowl corner Jaycee Horn this season. A hamstring injury during the summer put pay to that, which was extremely disappointing for the player. It meant the Panthers needed to make another move, acquiring Mike Jackson Sr. via trade from the Seattle Seahawks.
This was an outstanding piece of business given the compensation attached. Jackson excelled alongside Horn and Dave Canales hinted that another deal could be in the offing. That would keep some semblance of continuity with changes anticipated on the defensive side of the football.
Dane Jackson's return to the lineup came with subpar production. He's got one more year on his deal and could contribute with a smoother preparation period. However, there wouldn't be many tears shed among the fanbase if he was let go ahead of time.
David Moore - Carolina Panthers WR
If the Panthers are intent on moving forward with Bryce Young as their starting quarterback in 2025 following his recent renaissance, they must upgrade the skill positions. Nobody is safe aside from a select few. Dan Morgan must leave no stone unturned to give the No. 1 pick in 2023 a fighting chance of firmly establishing himself next season.
What this means for David Moore's future is anyone's guess. The veteran joined Carolina this offseason to reunite with head coach Dave Canales at a third destination. He's flashed promise throughout the campaign, but there have been several frustrating mistakes thrown in for good measure.
Canales likes Moore, so another one-year deal couldn't be completely dismissed. However, the Panthers need to reinforce the wideout room through free agency and the draft if they want Young to succeed in Year 3 of his professional career.
Depending on who and how many wideouts are acquired, it could leave Moore on the outside looking in.
Jordan Fuller - Carolina Panthers S
The Carolina Panthers made a big call during the offseason by releasing veteran safety Vonn Bell and replacing him with Jordan Fuller. This was a financial decision that allowed defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero to link back up with a player he knew well.
Evero and Fuller developed a strong working relationship with the Los Angeles Rams. This familiarity made his transition seamless throughout the summer. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for the former sixth-round pick out of Ohio State.
Fuller was a liability in coverage. Things weren't much better against the run alongside Xavier Woods. The Panthers had no option other than to make him a healthy scratch down the stretch following a series of woeful displays.
The Panthers didn't do Fuller any favors by having him cover the likes of Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb one-on-one. But when the time comes to decide his fate, it shouldn't take long for those in power to reach a conclusion and send him packing.
LaBryan Ray - Carolina Panthers DL
Losing Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown was a hammer blow Evero's 3-4 front couldn't recover from. He was the talisman — the integral piece of the puzzle capable of great things. It didn't take long for things to unravel after that.
The Panthers' run defense is an absolute abomination. They are comfortably the league's worst unit. They don't have enough quality in starting positions and their depth leaves a lot to be desired.
Brown's injury once again gave LaBryan Ray more responsibilities than anticipated. While the former Alabama standout flashed promise last season, it's been less impressive this time around.
Ray's 36.8 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus ranks 195th out of 218 qualifying interior defensive linemen. His lack of explosiveness and inability and set the edge effectively have been the primary catalysts behind his downfall. Any hope the player had of carving out a long-term career for himself in Carolina is over.
There's a chance Ray gets another reserve/futures deal. But nobody would care too much if he was moved on.
Nick Scott - Carolina Panthers S
Another former Evero player also made his way to Carolina this offseason. Nick Scott penned a short-term deal despite an underwhelming campaign with the Cincinnati Bengals. It was hoped a reunion with the defensive coordinator could lead to better fortunes.
Things didn't pan out that way. Scott never looked comfortable when allocated reps on the defensive rotation. He spent time on injured reserve and lacked the discipline needed to provide adequate support on the backend. Not even a previous connection to Evero from their time together on the Los Angeles Rams could stop his downward spiral.
The fact Scott conceded a 131.9 passer rating when targeted this season speaks volumes. Carolina is entering the offseason with several safeties looking for new deals. There will never be a better time to hit the reset button.
Carolina's future won't include Scott. Whether the defensive back gets another opportunity to fight for a roster spot elsewhere is the big question nobody knows the answer to right now.
Eddy Pineiro - Carolina Panthers K
Eddy Pineiro held out the last offseason amid reported unhappiness regarding his contract status. He'll be lucky to get a reprieve from the Carolina Panthers this time around.
Pineiro might be statistically sound, but confidence has faded regarding his ability beyond 40 yards or coming through in crucial moments. The former Florida star could get a short-term arrangement and enter a kicking competition with someone throughout the summer. There's a high chance Carolina will take this opportunity to upgrade.
There is no room for sentiment in Dan Morgan's decision-making process. The general manager needs to improve almost every position group. If that means ruffling some feathers by making Pineiro surplus to requirements, so be it.
Carolina cannot settle with Pineiro and look at the misleading statistics. The eye test indicates a new kicker is needed. That's not up for discussion upon further examination of the player's overall body of work in 2024.
Miles Sanders - Carolina Panthers RB
There were huge expectations on Miles Sanders' shoulders when he joined the Panthers in 2023 free agency. The running back was coming off a Pro Bowl campaign with the Philadelphia Eagles, which was enough for those in power at the time to proclaim him the long-term successor to Christian McCaffrey. That didn't go according to plan.
Sanders dealt with injuries and poor performance throughout his first season with the franchise. He lost the starting backfield job to Chuba Hubbard and never got it back. The former second-round selection became an afterthought within Dave Canales' scheme, utilized more as a pass-catching asset than anything else.
Couple this with another trip to injured reserve, and it's not hard to see why Sanders' future beyond 2024 looks bleak. He did come back in Week 18 to help a decimated backfield, but that shouldn't mean much in the grand scheme of things.
Cutting the Penn State product with one year remaining on his deal saves the Panthers around $5 million to better spend elsewhere. It would be jaw-dropping if Sanders was still on the roster in 2025.
Brady Christensen - Carolina Panthers OL
Brady Christensen's proven his worth as a dependable option capable of manning all five positions on the offensive line. This versatility and productivity won't go unnoticed around the NFL when free agency arrives.
Christensen filled in admirably for starting center Austin Corbett after he went down with a torn bicep. The Panthers had to shift the former third-round selection over to the blindside when Ikem Ekwonu went down. Once the left tackle returned, those in power sent him to the bench in favor of Cade Mays.
It's a tough business.
If the Panthers let Christensen test the market, which seems like the most realistic outcome, then he won't be short of offers. It's about finding where he could potentially go from a swing backup to a starter more than any financial benefits attached at this stage of his career — something Carolina cannot guarantee depending on what happens with Corbett.
Making Christensen an offer seems almost certain. Whether he'd accept it is highly debatable.