Those who survived Dan Morgan's roster cull will get every chance to establish themselves in 2024. The Carolina Panthers are rebuilding the foundations and seem to have everyone on the same page at last. That won't guarantee success, but this cohesion is night and day from the atmosphere around the building under previous regimes.
Although there is optimism that strides can be made with head coach Dave Canales leading the charge, it's still a precarious situation. Morgan will be constantly assessing performance levels to determine what more is needed in the short term. He'll also be accumulating information throughout the campaign before making decisions on potential contract extensions.
Having some added financial incentive is only going to spur certain players on. Not many should consider themselves safe. They need to prove themselves all over again. This raised urgency must be harnessed correctly as the Panthers look to become more competitive.
With this in mind, here are four Panthers players who could make themselves some major money with strong seasons in 2024.
Xavier Woods - Carolina Panthers S
It went relatively overlooked considering how poor the Carolina Panthers were overall last season, but Xavier Woods had an outstanding season. The veteran safety is an underrated and integral part of Ejiro Evero's defensive puzzle. With one year remaining on his deal, there's a chance to get a lucrative extension with another strong campaign under his belt.
Woods came into the franchise and immediately imposed himself. Not many veterans acquired by the Panthers in recent seasons saw out their contracts. He's a rare example thanks to supreme consistency, the ability to impact proceedings in all phases, and communicating effectively from the backend.
The former sixth-round selectionwill be 29 years old when the time comes to begin contract negotiations. With another outstanding year of production, the Panthers could offer Woods a 2-3-year extension safe in the knowledge they're going to get plenty of bang for their buck.
This is guaranteed by any stretch of the imagination. But the signs are pointing upward for Woods heading into the new campaign.
Diontae Johnson - Carolina Panthers WR
The Carolina Panthers are expecting big things from Diontae Johnson in 2024. After most in the wide receiver room failed to deliver during a campaign to forget last time around, general manager Dan Morgan struck with conviction to acquire one of the best route-runners around.
Carolina gave up almost nothing to get Johnson via trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Donte Jackson - who was going to be released before this development became public knowledge - and a late-round pick swap was enough. This is the definition of a low-risk, high-reward pickup for the franchise.
Johnson knows how to get open. He manipulates opposing cornerbacks through explosive cuts out of his route stems and quick-twitch movements. The former third-round pick excels at finding soft spots in coverage and has the ball skills to make even the slightest window count.
Despite the optimism surrounding Johnson, this is a prove-it year for the wideout. It's the last of his deal, so there should be plenty of motivation for the Pro Bowler to silence his doubters and earn himself a ton of money along the way.
The wide receiver market is propelling to levels not seen before. Justin Jefferson's recent extension with the Minnesota Vikings made him the league's highest-paid non-quarterback. That might not be the case for much longer with pass-catchers such as Ja'Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb also seeking added financial security.
While Johnson won't be in line for anything like the contract handed to Jefferson, the Panthers would need to cough up a hefty amount to keep him around if he gets back to the form of old. He's also eager to prove people wrong after questions about his character came to light during a turbulent final campaign in Pittsburgh.
Johnson's made a good impression over early workouts and is grinding away from the team with specialist route coaches. When it's all said and done, this could be an outstanding piece of business from Morgan.
Taylor Moton - Carolina Panthers OT
There haven't been many constants throughout the Carolina Panthers' rollercoaster period under David Tepper's ownership. Taylor Moton is one of them.
The veteran right tackle remains an ultra-consistent performer. Moton is incredibly durable, holds his own against the elite pass-rushers around the league, and provides a sense of security that others on the protection haven't accomplished.
He's also Carolina's highest-paid player by a considerable margin. The Panthers resisted the urge to restructure Moton's deal - for now, at least - meaning the player is counting $29.74 million against the salary cap in 2024. For context, the next biggest commitment is Austin Corbett at $10.31 million.
That's a huge difference, but Moton is more than worthy. He was outstanding in 2023 as all around him crumbled, giving up one sack and four penalties from 1,149 offensive snaps en route to a 74.6 grade from Pro Football Focus. With the options alongside him on the line set to improve, expect the same trend to continue next time around.
If Moton extends his run without missing a game and remains highly productive, the Panthers would be wise to offer him a new deal next spring. He's not out of contract until 2026, but tying him down will get the cap number down in 2025 and solidify the right tackle spot throughout the rest of quarterback Bryce Young's rookie deal.
Moton will be 30 years old before the upcoming campaign. Giving him a three-year deal seems realistic when one considers his health and how long offensive linemen tend to play before their performance levels dip. The player's emergence into a quiet locker room leader is another important part of his contribution that often gets overlooked.
Of course, the Panthers might decide to ride out Moton's contract until it expires. In this scenario, they'd be running the risk of losing a high-profile edge operator for nothing in free agency unless those in power utilize the franchise tag. Something that cannot happen if the Western Michigan product continues to show out.
Jaycee Horn - Carolina Panthers CB
This is a make-or-break season for Jaycee Horn. It has nothing to do with the cornerback's production - which is nothing short of exceptional. However, the Carolina Panthers need to make sure they can depend on the player from a health standpoint after three frustrating campaigns on the injury front.
Horn got his fifth-year option picked up, which was a vote of confidence from the new regime. Unless the former first-round pick puts a consistent run of games together, it's hard to envisage a scenario where the Panthers offer him anything longer-term when the 2025 offseason arrives.
Nobody's more frustrated than Horn about his rough luck. The South Carolina product altered his offseason preparation throughout the break in pursuit of avoiding similar complications. Whether it has the desired effect remains to be seen, but the Panthers desperately need their No. 1 coverage guy fit and firing on all cylinders looking at the alternatives in the cornerback room.
Carolina is relying on Dane Jackson and Troy Hill to potentially start alongside Horn. After that, the others are unproven despite having some nice qualities. Unless Dan Morgan adds to the group before Week 1 at the New Orleans Saints, it's not hard to see where weak links could emerge.
That's a worst-case scenario. The best case for Carolina is Horn finally ridding himself of these problems and cementing his status as one of the league's best young cornerbacks. If this comes to fruition, it might be enough for Morgan and Brandt Tilis to provide the player with a long-term extension.
That's a risk, but the Panthers demonstrated a willingness to tie down influential figures ahead of time if they feel like it's the right thing to do. Derrick Brown is on a different level to Horn right now, but that might not be the case for much longer if he gets through a full 17-game slate relatively unscathed.