The Carolina Panthers are coming off an offseason full of new additions, fresh storylines, and a plethora of individual accolades. Linebacker Devin Lloyd and edge defender Jaelan Phillips were brought in to solidify the front seven. Lloyd, a former Jacksonville Jaguars team captain and first-round pick, was recently ranked 27th in the annual NFL Films Top 100 Players release. Some storylines include second-year edge rusher Nic Scourton’s season-ending ACL tear and both starting offensive tackles, Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton, being placed on the physically unable to perform list. This means they will both be ineligible to play for the team’s first four games, and possibly longer. As for personal accolades, cornerback Jaycee Horn and defensive tackle Derrick Brown were members of the annual NFL Films Top 100 Players release, accompanying their new star linebacker Lloyd. Another important pre-season honor was given to cornerback Mike Jackson, who ranked 10th on Pro Football Focus’s best cornerbacks in the league list. As Carolina prepares to upset the Chicago Bears in the season opener, here are three players to watch at 1:00 p.m. EST this Sunday.
Chau Smith-Wade
Chau Smith-Wade has the build, speed, and athleticism to be a starting-caliber slot cornerback in the NFL. The 23-year-old breaks on the ball quickly and is an uber-fluid mover. The issue for Smith-Wade last year was consistency in coverage. His speed can kill him at times, especially when jumping routes. These were the plays that plagued him; if he were to break on a pass too early, the receiver would then have a ton of open space. Why Smith-Wade needs to be watched this weekend is because the Bears run a ton of outside-the-tackle runs. The 2024 Senior Bowl MVP lines up in the slot, which means he will be the first player to greet the running back more often than not. If he can hold his own in the run game and show a little bit of improvement in coverage, the former Washington State Cougar could solidify his spot as the primary slot corner for Carolina.
Robert Hunt
Robert Hunt is regarded as one of the most ruthless, powerful guards in the sport. He excels in the run game and loves pulling over to blow up incoming linebackers. The reason the 30-year-old needs to be watched is his lengthy injury history. Hunt only played in two games last season before a triceps injury that required surgery. Running the ball up the gut is a big part of the Panthers’ offense, so it is pivotal that the 2024 Pro Bowler is back healthy and plays as he did in 2024.
Lee Hunter
Lee Hunter adds exactly 318 pounds to an already dominant defensive front, but he plays differently than his counterpart on the interior, the aforementioned Brown. Instead of rushing the passer or bowling over blockers, Hunter makes a living taking up multiple offensive linemen at once. He eats up so much space, allowing for more free rushers and one-on-one battles. This will ultimately benefit guys like Brown, Phillips, and more because they will not have to face double-team blocks, since the 24-year-old is engaged with two blockers himself. The second-round rookie out of Texas Tech just needs to do what he did in college and, in all honesty, this game could be his audition to be a cornerstone nose tackle for Carolina, a position they have been unable to fill since 2018, when longtime Panther, now retired, Star Lotulelei held down the fort.
