NFL Notebook: 2025 Carolina Panthers Preview

The Carolina Panthers have had seven straight losing seasons since their last playoff appearance back in 2017. Head coach Dave Canales enters his second year.  The Panthers were better in the second half of his rookie year, when they got four of their five wins. Does this translate into competitive football for 2025? Let’s take a look…

BRYCE HAS TO MAKE THE LEAP

It’s time for Bryce Young to come into his own. The former Heisman Trophy winner and #1 overall pick out of Alabama will be entering his third season. Young’s numbers have been mediocre, although in fairness to him, the combination of youth and a bad supporting cast have made success difficult. But Carolina is putting resources into getting him some weapons.

The Panthers have used first-round draft picks on wide receivers each of the last two years. Tetairoa McMillan is this year’s rookie, joining Xavier Legette as the down-field options. Their success (or lack thereof) will correlate with Young’s.

Adam Thielen isn’t the producer he once was in Minnesota, but the veteran slot receiver is still an ideal fit for this young team. He gives Young an option in the short game and can draw some attention away from the younger wideouts.

The prospects for improved quarterback play are further enhanced by what looks like a strong running game. Chuba Hubbard ran for almost 1,200 yards last year and averaged a healthy 4.8 yards-per-carry. The offensive line is solid—while there are superstars in this unit, there also aren’t any glaring weaknesses.

Carolina is going to run the football, protect the passer and they have a steady veteran in the slot. It’s all in place for the highly touted quarterback and his new group of receivers to come into their own. Significant progress needs to happen this year.

A SHAKY FRONT SEVEN LEAVES HUGE QUESTIONS

The need for offensive progress becomes even more urgent when you look at the defense. This side of the ball was a mess last year, finishing last in the NFL for points allowed. The main problem is a woeful front seven. The Panthers did a lot of shuffling of the cards, but it’s hard to see it’s going to make much of an impact.

Carolina signed Tershawn Wharton, a defensive tackle from Kansas City, nose tackle Bobby Brown III from the Rams, and Viking outside linebacker Pat Jones II. That sounds impressive on the surface, since all three came from contenders. Until you look at their grades on Pro Football Focus and realize all three players are mediocre.

It’s not all negative. Mike Jackson is a respectable player at corner and strong safety Tre’von Moehrig is a genuine impact free agent pickup from the Raiders. But is this unit really good enough to compensate for the fact there probably won’t be much pressure on the quarterback and opposing offenses can likely establish the run? I doubt it.

I’ll say this—if Carolina’s defense gets competitive with all these new pieces, then coordinator Ejiro Evero should jump to the head of the list of head coaching candidates this offseason.

OUTLOOK

The NFL is fluid enough that you don’t like to rule out anyone in August, especially a team in a fluid division like the NFC South. But I’m just not seeing it in Carolina. I can see Young establishing himself and the offense doing some exciting things. But the defense is too big of a problem. I can see five or six wins. But the Over/Under on wins for this team is 6.5. I can’t see that.