The Carolina Panthers had a different feel throughout early offseason workouts. Dave Canales brought fresh fire to the head coaching position that was sorely lacking under Frank Reich. There's an aligned vision for the future and everyone's bought into these plans at the earliest possible opportunity.
This is a strong foundation. It's also the first step of Canales' ambitious proposals to get the Panthers back to being feared around the league. Enthusiasm surrounding the team is growing, but there is a significant amount of hard work ahead.
Carolina's dramatic offseason also brought increased competition for places. Players got the first chance to impress in a more relaxed atmosphere this spring. Some thrived with the spotlight glaring. Others found life difficult and now face a fight for their future during the Panthers' upcoming training camp in Charlotte.
With this in mind, here are four Panthers players who saw their respective stocks plummet during the team's early offseason workouts.
Lamar Jackson - Carolina Panthers CB
Nobody is expecting Lamar Jackson to make the 53-man roster. At the same time, the Carolina Panthers' lack of legitimate depth at the cornerback position provided a slight window of opportunity for the player to make a surprising surge into consideration.
Things didn't get off to a great start for Jackson according to those in attendance. Some videos published by the Panthers saw the corner getting beaten. While this is just the opening stage of Carolina's preparations, you only get one chance to make a good first impression.
Jackson might get a reprieve for camp, but what comes after that is less certain. Several players appear well ahead of him on the cornerback depth chart. Another notable arrival could seal his inevitable fate.
Whether the Panthers consider keeping Jackson around on the practice squad once again is anyone's guess. But his hopes of making the team appear remote unless he somehow manages to make a monumental leap with things get more intense at camp.
Miles Sanders - Carolina Panthers RB
Miles Sanders needs a strong offseason. The veteran running back failed to meet expectations after the Carolina Panthers shelled out a decent contract to secure his services in free agency. They weren't going to sit around and wait on the off chance he turned things around.
Dave Canales wants to run the football heavily. He's got the personnel to make this happen, which was strengthened by selecting Jonathon Brooks at No. 46 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft and signing Rashaad Penny in free agency. This raises the stakes for Sanders in pursuit of maintaining his depth chart status.
Sanders seems eager to silence his doubters and return to the form that saw him earn Pro Bowl honors in 2022. Unfortunately for the Penn State product, another frustrating injury kept him out of some practices, stunting whatever momentum he managed to generate.
This is a small blow - one that Sanders can recover from relatively quickly with a strong showing at Carolina's training camp. However, it does nothing to inspire confidence that the former second-round selection can stay healthy and keep those breathing down his neck from taking over reps at some stage.
Brooks' arrival represents the biggest threat. Canales praised Chuba Hubbard's work ethic and emerging leadership over early workouts. If the Texas product imposes himself immediately once medically cleared to return from a torn ACL, Sanders will be demoted to the No. 3 option without hesitation.
Sanders knows what comes next if performance levels aren't up to the required standard. He survived Dan Morgan's initial roster cull despite many analysts believing he'd be released. If this faith isn't repaid and others on the running back depth chart thrive, it might be a different story when the time for final cuts arrives.
That's the worst-case scenario for Sanders. Although it was a stuttering opening to early workouts, hopes remain high improved blocking concepts and a more expansive rushing scheme can get the player back on track.
Chandler Zavala - Carolina Panthers OL
The Carolina Panthers spent significant financial resources on strengthening the offensive line interior this offseason. Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis form the team's new starting guard tandem. To say this is an upgrade that can help quarterback Bryce Young considerably would be a massive understatement.
Austin Corbett is switching to the center position as a result. Brady Christensen's been demoted to a versatile depth piece capable of occupying every position along the protection. This leaves Chandler Zavala as almost the forgotten man entering Year 2 of his professional career.
Zavala was taken in the fourth round in 2023 with hopes of becoming a potential starter over time. Injuries to key players meant the former North Carolina State bruiser was tasked with responsibilities he wasn't ready for. It came as no surprise to see the interior presence represent a deer in the headlights.
He was outmatched and overwhelmed on countless occasions. Zavala went to injured reserve after that, which was a blessing in disguise considering how things were unfolding between the white lines.
It was disastrous. Zavala gave up six sacks and three penalties from 374 offensive snaps. His 26.2 grade from Pro Football Focus was ranked dead last among qualifying guards and one of the lowest marks ever handed out by the analysis-based organization. There is a long road ahead for the player in pursuit of extended involvement moving forward.
Zavala's got a lot to prove. There wasn't much said about the lineman over early workouts, but Mike Kaye from the Charlotte Observer saw enough to leave him off his 53-man roster projection heading into training camp.
That would be surprising after just one season, but stranger things have happened. If nothing else, it highlights the fight Zavala has to win back the trust of a coaching staff with no emotional attachment to him whatsoever.
Eddy Pineiro - Carolina Panthers K
Eddy Pineiro saw himself as almost untouchable despite an inconsistent campaign in 2023. The Carolina Panthers had other ideas.
Nobody on a two-win team should walk into their previously held job unless it's someone with cornerstone credentials. Pineiro wouldn't be classed as that by any stretch, but he opted to skip voluntary organized team activities when everyone else showed up at some stage.
This was an odd development. It also provided Harrison Mevis with an opportunity to take the mantle and make the coaching staff think differently about their potential direction at the kicking spot next season.
Much has been made of Mevis' exceptional integration and consistency. His deep ball accuracy is superb. He showed out in front of the media. Dave Canales was suitably impressed, highlighting the player's willingness to compete as something that went over extremely well with Pineiro out of the equation.
Pineiro got back into the building for Carolina's mandatory minicamp. The veteran didn't participate in on-field drills during the first practice session. He missed two extra point attempts on Day 2, which only lent further weight to the claims that his time as the team's No. 1 option could be coming to an end.
This competition between Pineiro and Mevis will go on throughout training camp, one suspects. There wasn't a lot of emphasis on getting to know the rookie from the established figure's perspective based on comments to the media. After all, this is a man trying to take his job.
The battle will be fascinating to watch. Pineiro is in the driving seat by a small margin. But his prospects aren't cemented by any stretch of the imagination as Mevis fights with everything to become the Panthers' long-term kicker following a sensational college career at Missouri.
Pineiro didn't react well to having his place in jeopardy. It's also given Canales plenty to think about with camp on the immediate horizon.