Heading into the offseason, the outlook on the Carolina Panthers was fairly bleak. The team had just missed the playoffs for the sixth season in a row, fired its second head coach in as many seasons, and let go of a general manager that helped drive the franchise into misery.
Enter Dave Canales and Dan Morgan.
The duo has given fans hope and breathed new life into a franchise in limbo by making smart decisions. The moves made by Morgan and Canales prove that they are not only focused on quarterback Bryce Young's development, but they are also confident that he is the signal-caller for the future and can lead this organization to greatness.
With some of the selections made during the 2024 NFL Draft, it's clear that fixing an abysmal offense is one of the goals for this team. Let's take a look at some position battles that fans should keep their eye on.
Carolina Panthers TE dynamic
- Ja'Tavion Sanders, Tommy Tremble, and Ian Thomas.
Ian Thomas is included because the Carolina Panthers have not had a true depth chart when it comes to the tight end position, and he has seemingly entered every post-Greg Olsen season as TE1. That will without a doubt change in 2024 with the budding talent of Tommy Tremble and the addition of Ja'Tavion Sanders.
Sanders was widely regarded as one of the best tight-end prospects in this draft. His ability as a reliable pass catcher will give Carolina a much-needed boost at the position.
Tremble has been promising in recent seasons. Unfortunately for the Notre Dame product, the Panthers haven't had much need for effective tight-end play under the previous two regimes. The former third-round pick is an athletic player who has shown flashes in both the passing game and as a blocker. Expect him to take the bulk of the snaps this season, especially considering that most rookie tight ends typically take some time to develop.
Thomas has yet to break out in his six-year career. Many fans were hoping he would be the player that would step up in the absence of Olsen, but the former Indiana Hoosier hasn't quite panned out as expected and even saw his snap count diminish last season with the emergence of Tremble.
The veteran may have some value as a blocker. But as a receiving option, he hasn't been effective since his rookie campaign where he posted career highs in yardage, catches, and touchdowns. Thomas hasn't recorded a touchdown since 2020, which speaks volumes.
Carolina Panthers RB congestion
- Jonathon Brooks, Chuba Hubbard, and Miles Sanders.
A bit of a surprising pick in this year's draft was when the Carolina Panthers selected Texas running back Jonathon Brooks with their second-round pick. They even traded up to seal the deal at No. 46 overall.
Brooks, like Ja'Tavion Sanders, was among the best in his position group in this draft. Selecting him this high proves that head coach Dave Canales and company have a lot of faith in the young tailback. The former Longhorn is a do-it-all backfield threat whose talents provide burst, blocking, and balance to a running back room that already includes Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders.
However, Brooks is coming off of an ACL injury suffered in a game last season against TCU. Before he went down, the gifted back was cooking for 1,425 total yards and 11 scores in just 11 contests.
Hubbard is a talented player no doubt, leading the Panthers in rushing over the last three seasons. However, he hasn't quite become a bonafide RB1 in this league due to limited effectiveness in the passing game. Even though the former fourth-round pick has improved his game every year in his young career, he may serve best as a compliment in the backfield rather than as a lead option.
One would expect Hubbard to enter the season with the bulk of the rushing load, with Brooks spelling him occasionally and being utilized more so in the passing game until he's ready to assume the bulk of carries.
Sanders, on the other hand, seemed to have taken a step back last season and found himself relegated to reserve duty behind both Hubbard and sometimes Raheem Blackshear. The former Philadelphia Eagles standout signed a nice-sized contract last offseason and has failed to prove worthy of the signing.
With the addition of Rashaad Penny and the possibility that Brooks emerges as an elite player, Sanders may even find himself looking for a new team in the coming months.
Carolina Panthers WR rotation
- Jonathan Mingo, Terrace Marshall Jr., and Jalen Coker.
After rostering one of the worst wideout rooms in the NFL last season, the improvement plan was clear. Adding the talented Diontae Johnson and first-round rookie Xavier Legette alongside the forever reliable Adam Thielen should put the finishing touches on the starting lineup for the Carolina Panthers. But who is left in the receiver corps that could see snaps?
Undrafted free agent Jalen Coker has garnered praise from Dave Canales during the team's rookie minicamp, with the first-year head coach noting his skillset that includes separation as well as impressive run-after-catch ability. As we know, it's tough for an undrafted player to make an NFL roster let alone to be available for Week 1. Given the adulation, we might see the Holy Cross product suit up for Carolina this season.
Fortunately for Coker, that praise may go a long way considering how unimpressive the guys he will be competing with have looked thus far in their young careers. Their respective statuses are hanging precariously heading into a pivotal offseason.
Terrace Marshall Jr. barely saw playing time last season, finishing with statistics just marginally better than his rookie campaign. This came as somewhat of a surprise after the improvements made during his second season as a pro. It could be due to the mess of an offense run by the team last season, or possibly some regression in the former LSU Tiger's play.
Also in the wideout room is second-year player Jonathan Mingo. The Ole Miss product saw action in 15 contests a season ago and posted 43 catches for 418 receiving yards as a rookie, but consistently struggled with creating separation.
Mingo wasn't too impressive. But to be fair, nothing about last season's offense was. The No. 4 spot is his job to lose considering he is a young player who was dealt a bad hand last year. However, his position shouldn't be deemed safe until he separates himself, no pun intended.