What Are the Biggest Stories from the Carolina Panthers Offseason?
Throughout the NFL offseason, there have been rumblings of player breakouts, disagreements about starting quarterbacks, and mega-deals for free agents. Whether it is a fifth-round rookie getting starting nods, or a veteran quarterback coming in to fill a void, there are always storylines before the season even starts. For the Panthers, most of these stories consist of predicting a Bryce Young breakout year or featuring the newest Carolina draft pick, Tetairoa McMillan. Including those two, here are some things to pay attention to in Charlotte as training camp looms.
A Crowded Receiver Room
The Panthers have quietly built an impressive receiver room this offseason and last. In 2024, they drafted Xavier Legette with the last pick in the first round. This year, they nabbed Arizona standout Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth overall pick, adding to the already stout position group. Adam Thielen, despite his age and some nagging injuries, is still a more than reliable slot receiver who understands and reads coverages better than anyone else on this squad. He will serve as a great mentor for Legette and McMillan, too. Now, for who will start, it looks like McMillan will serve as the number one. His wide catch radius and impressive body control make him a great red zone threat, as well as a surefire target over the middle for Bryce Young. Legette is listed as the number two on the depth chart, per ESPN. The ex-Gamecock had no trouble getting open in his rookie year, but drops and some miscommunication plagued him. If he can keep up his separation and space-creating, his future looks bright in Carolina. The main battle at the position is between Thielen and second-year WR Jalen Coker. Coker burst onto the scene as an undrafted rookie in 2024, tallying 478 yards and catching the longest touchdown of the season last year against the Cowboys. Coker and the savvy veteran both pose a threat to defenses in the slot because of how well they operate vs zone coverage. The team also grabbed Jimmy Horn Jr. in the sixth round of the draft. There have been multiple reports that the coaching staff is mesmerized by his speed, opening the potential for him to become a gadget guy and maybe even a punt returner, where he is listed as the starter on the depth chart. Hunter Renfrow, who came out of retirement to sign with the Panthers, is also in the mix.
Young Defensive Leaders
Carolina is getting a huge part of their defense back this season, literally and figuratively, in Derrick Brown. He missed nearly all of the last season due to injury, and Carolina felt his absence big-time. Brown has a special combination of power and speed. At six-foot-five, 320 pounds, the former top-ten pick is the heart and soul of this unit. He has game-wrecking ability, and when he is in the zone, there is no stopping him. In 2023, Brown exploded with 16 tackles for loss and 103 total tackles, leading the NFL in tackles for defensive linemen. His return means more leadership and a plethora of production. He is just 27 years old but serves as a team captain, and so does newly extended boundary corner Jaycee Horn. Horn has had his fair share of injury issues as well, but he was on the field a lot last season and proved why he is a top defensive back in the league. His aggressive nature and ability to win in press coverage are huge for this squad. Horn shut down star wideouts consistently last season, with his most impressive performance coming against the Giants in London. He had six total tackles and forced an incompletion late in the game that led to an overtime win for Carolina. These two are going to be huge for the black and blue this year, and they make this defense one to keep an eye on in 2025.
A Better Backfield
Chuba Hubbard took over the full-time starter role last season and had the best season of his career. The 25-year-old ranked eighth in rushing yards with 1,195 and added 10 touchdowns on the ground. He was also PFF’s ninth-ranked runner, adding to his impressive 2024 campaign. The team will most definitely stick with Hubbard as the main running back, but that didn’t stop them from adding a second 1,000-yard rusher in free agency. Rico Dowdle, another former South Carolina player, was the Dallas Cowboys' number-one option in the run game last year. He burst onto the scene in training camp last summer, earning the starting role over Ezekiel Elliot. Dowdle will take the place of Miles Sanders, whom the Panthers released before the draft. This change-of-pace running back role has become uber-popular throughout the NFL, and Carolina might have added one of the better number two options in Dowdle. The team also drafted Georgia standout Trevor Etienne in the draft. He is the brother of Jaguars RB Travis Ettiene and is great out of the backfield as a pass-catcher, as well as a good blocker.
A New Era in Carolina
All of these additions make the Panthers a sneaky team to watch this year. They look to contend with the Buccaneers and Falcons to win the NFC South, something they have not done since their Super Bowl run in 2015. A fun fact about this year is that every time Carolina has started a year against the Jags, they have made the Super Bowl. Yes, it has only happened twice, but it is something to note. The team feels like they have finally exited rebuild mode, and it looks to push for the postseason in 2025.
