What the Panthers’ depth chart looks like post-draft: Revamped O-Line, new QB, depth
The Carolina Panthers drafted six players over the weekend, down from the 11 they drafted in 2021.
Nonetheless, they felt like they accomplished the goals they set for the draft.
Left tackle and quarterback were the Panthers’ biggest needs this offseason. While the thought going in was that they’d likely only be able to address one in the draft, things fell their way.
Former N.C. State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who some pundits thought could go No. 1 overall, fell to six. And quarterback Matt Corral, who some thought would go late in the first round, fell to the third round as the Panthers traded up to get him.
“It’s a rare time when you’re able to address need and take what we felt was the best player possible,” Panthers coach Matt Rhule said Saturday. “We feel like we have a really deep team now.”
There are still some positions that Carolina would like to address. Return specialist is no longer one of them. The Panthers signed three-time All-Pro Andre Roberts to a one-year deal Monday.
Training camp will decide a lot of these battles. And the Panthers could still use free agency to fill its remaining holes. Considering that, here is a projected depth chart for the 2022 season. (Players in italics were just drafted or are undrafted rookies signed this week.):
Offense
▪ Quarterback: Sam Darnold, Matt Corral, P.J. Walker, Davis Cheek
Darnold will enter training camp as the starter — and should begin the season as the starter. Rhule suggested that ideally they’d like to have Corral sit and learn and develop behind Darnold before having him play.
He pointed to instances of quarterbacks forced to play before they were ready who are now struggling.
“Whenever that time is ready that he’s ready to play, he’ll get his opportunity,” Rhule said of Corral. “He’s not walking in Day 1 as a starter. Sam is our starter. But we will compete.”
Darnold, for his part, will need to be much better. He threw nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2021.
But there are some within the organization who believe Darnold will improve under new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo and with a healthy Christian McCaffrey.
The Panthers kept three quarterbacks on the roster last year and will likely do the same in 2022.
▪ Running back: Christian McCaffrey, D’Onta Foreman, Chuba Hubbard, Spencer Brown, Darius Bradwell, John Lovett. Fullback: Giovanni Ricci
The Panthers signed Foreman in free agency this offseason, giving them the power back they were missing last season to pair with the speed they already have. Foreman rushed for 533 yards and three touchdowns last year. He also provides insurance and another back who can take on the lead role if needed.
The team wants McCaffrey healthy. He’s missed 23 games in the past two seasons, including 10 last year.
Though Hubbard did a fair job in relief, it was unreasonable to suggest he could make up for what the Panthers lost without McCaffrey. The former All-Pro is the Panthers’ best weapon and has the potential to go for 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in any season.
▪ Wide receiver: DJ Moore, Robbie Anderson, Terrace Marshall, Brandon Zylstra, Rashard Higgins, Shi Smith, C.J. Saunders, Aaron Parker, Charleston Rambo, Andrew Parchment, Ra’Shaun Henry, Derek Wright, Talolo Limu-Jones
Moore got paid this spring, and rightfully so. Despite not have a steady quarterback, Moore has been consistent. He finished 2021 with his third consecutive 1,100-yard season.
Opposite of him, Robbie Anderson has to have a better season. Anderson changed the spelling of his first name and is in the process of changing his jersey number, according to one team source and one source close to Anderson.
After recording a career-high 95 catches for 1,096 yards in 2020, Anderson had a significant drop-off in production. He finished the 2021 season with 53 catches for a career-low 519 yards.
It’ll be incumbent upon McAdoo to figure out how to get the most out of Anderson’s abilities while also getting Terrace Marshall Jr. involved.
Adding Higgins should give the Panthers another weapon.
▪ Tight end: Ian Thomas, Tommy Tremble, Stephen Sullivan, Colin Thompson, Josh Babicz
Thomas got paid like a starter this spring with a three-year, $16.95 million deal. And Tremble is a guy the Panthers think has a bright future. Both are good blockers.
But for the Panthers’ offense to excel, they’ll need more from the tight ends as receivers. The two combined for 38 catches for 368 yards and only one receiving touchdown in 2021. Thomas and Tremble should be better this season.
And at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, Sullivan has potential, too.
▪ Offensive line:
- LT: Ikem Ekwonu, Brady Christensen, Cam Erving, Austen Pleasants
- LG: Christensen, Michael Jordan, Pat Elflein, Dennis Daley
- C: Bradley Bozeman, Elflein, Sam Tecklenburg
- RG: Austin Corbett, Deonte Brown, Bozeman, Cade Mays
- RT: Taylor Moton, Erving, Christensen, Aaron Monteiro
The Panthers went into the offseason knowing they had to improve their offensive line, and they did that, first adding Corbett and Bozeman in free agency, then drafting Ekwonu at No. 6.
Three of their starters from the 2021 season — Jordan, Erving and Elflein — will be primary backups.
That might say more about what the Panthers were working with last season, but it also shows that they are deeper this year.
Adding Ekwonu, a former offensive tackle at N.C. State, was a major plus. Dubbed “The Pancake King,” Ekwonu was considered the best offensive tackle in the draft.
He’s mean, gritty and plays with attitude. He’s the type of player offensive line coach James Campen said he looks for in an offensive lineman. This unit should go from one of the worst last season to one of the best. And Darnold and Corral should benefit.
Defense
▪ Defensive line
- Defensive end: Brian Burns, Yetur Gross-Matos, Marquis Haynes Sr., Austin Larkin, Amare Barno
- Defensive tackle: Derrick Brown, Matt Ioannidis, Bravvion Roy, Daviyon Nixon, Phil Hoskins, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, Marquan McCall
Burns is coming off a Pro Bowl year, where he finished with nine sacks in his third season. But who will step up opposite of him? That’s the biggest question. Gross-Matos was much improved in Year 2 while playing both inside and outside. The Panthers will likely continue to utilize his versatility.
Haynes should get more playing time with Haason Reddick’s departure. He looked like a breakout candidate last preseason before an injury slowed him.
And Barno, who ran a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, has some positive traits to look forward to.
Ionnidis was a good veteran addition for a young defensive tackle room that will likely continue to improve.
▪ Linebackers
- WLB: Shaq Thompson, Julian Stanford, Azur Kamara, Isaiah Graham-Mobley
- MLB: Damien Wilson, Frankie Luvu, Kamal Martin
- SLB: Luvu, Corey Littleton, Brandon Smith, Khalan Tolson, Arron Mosby
Thompson is the leader of this unit. But depth remains an issue like it was in in 2020 and 2021. And with Wilson’s pending legal matter in which he was charged with assault, it raises the question of whether Carolina should have a backup plan.
Luvu steps into the starting role with Reddick’s departure. He made some big plays in limited action for the Panthers last season. With an expanded role, he should make an impact.
The Panthers are high on Smith, who they believe fell in the draft. The former Penn State linebacker, who is 6-foot-3, 241 pounds, may see some early action as a rookie.
But the Panthers ought to look in free agency for more options.
▪ Defensive backs
- CB: Donte Jackson, Jaycee Horn, C.J. Henderson, Keith Taylor, Rashaan Melvin, Stantley Thomas-Oliver, Troy Pride, Kalon Barnes, Chris Westry
- Nickel: Myles Hartsfield
- Strong Safety: Jeremy Chinn, Juston Burris, Sam Franklin
- Free Safety: Xavier Woods, Kenny Robinson, Sean Chandler
Cornerback is definitely the deepest position group for the Panthers, so it was somewhat of a surprise when they drafted Barnes.
But Barnes, who goes by the nickname “Boogie,” has track star speed. He ran a 4.22 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, which was the fastest of anyone there.
Jackson got paid this offseason. He and Horn should be a solid pair for the foreseeable future. The Panthers are hoping Henderson can continue to develop and be a reliable option as well.
At safety, Woods was a good addition. One of Carolina’s biggest weaknesses was its inability to create turnovers. Woods had three interceptions and two forced fumbles last season. Defensive coordinator Phil Snow said he hopes to add one more safety.
▪ Special teams
- PK: Zane Gonzalez
- P: Johnny Hekker
- LS: JJ Jansen, Thomas Fletcher
- KR/PR: Andre Roberts
With the addition of Hekker during the early stages of free agency and then Roberts on Monday, the Panthers should be much improved on special teams. Hekker might be considered the best punter in NFL history. And Roberts, though 34, was an All-Pro return specialist in three of the past four seasons. He led the league in kick return yards in 2021.
Gonzalez, who is returning from an injury, is coming off a Pro Bowl-caliber year where he made 20 of 22 field goals.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens between Jansen, who continues to be reliable, and Fletcher, who the Panthers drafted in the sixth round last year. The Panthers signed Jansen to another one-year deal in February. Cutting him could save $920,000 in cap space.
This story was originally published May 3, 2022 at 8:00 AM.
