Projecting Panthers’ offensive depth chart before NFL Draft: Wide receiver upgrades needed
The Carolina Panthers focused on re-signing their veteran free agents on offense this offseason. And with the bulk of free agency completed, the squad has added running back Rico Dowdle to a group that was mostly middling last season.
With the focus now shifting to April’s NFL Draft, The Observer is projecting the team’s three depth charts (offense, defense and special teams) ahead of the selection process to understand the holes in the roster.
The offense is up first for an analysis breakdown:
Quarterback
Bryce Young, Andy Dalton, Jack Plummer
Analysis: This one is simple: Young is the unquestioned starter heading into the offseason, and Dalton will be the backup for a third consecutive year. The Panthers prioritized continuity in the QB room this year, as the squad rushed to re-sign Dalton to a two-year contract. Essentially, Young will get to spend the bulk of his rookie contract with Dalton behind him. That stability is notable, considering the third-year QB has already had two different head coaches and three different play callers before he’s turned 24.
What it means for the rest of the offseason: Plummer impressed during last year’s preseason finale. He was able to able to stick around throughout his rookie season, as he clung to the practice squad before being promoted to the main roster in Week 18. Plummer could face some competition this offseason for the No. 3 QB job, as the Panthers enter the draft with nine selections, with the possibility of adding more in a trade-back situation.
Young and Dalton have mobility at the QB position, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Panthers add a late-round QB like Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard or Missouri’s Brady Cook — who are also quite mobile — to challenge Plummer. If the Panthers draft a QB, they’ll likely develop that signal caller as the long-term, cost-controlled heir apparent to Dalton.
Running back
Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, Emani Bailey
Projected injury list: Jonathon Brooks (PUP)
Analysis: The Panthers’ lone offensive addition during the first wave of free agency was Dowdle, who will replace the recently released Miles Sanders in the No. 2 role out of the backfield. Hubbard is clearly the top dog in the lineup, and he should receive the lion’s share of the touches at running back. But Dowdle has proven he can carry the load if called upon, and the Panthers probably don’t want to overuse Hubbard, despite his prowess as a workhorse. Hubbard and Dowdle, both coming off 1,000-yard rushing seasons, can form a talented tandem to run over opposing defenses.
What it means for the rest of the offseason: With Brooks likely to spend most of 2025 on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, the Panthers needed to bulk up in the backfield in the offseason. While Hubbard and Dowdle are locked into a two-man rotation, the running back position is volatile and historically injury prone, so the Panthers need additional depth here. The expectation is that Bailey, a practice-squad holdover, will face competition from a couple of rookies (drafted or undrafted) this summer. The Panthers could keep four running backs on the 53-man roster, especially if one has return ability.
Wide receiver
Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, David Moore, Dan Chisena, Dax Milne, Brycen Tremayne, T.J. Luther
Analysis: The Panthers like their wide receiver room more than the outside peanut gallery — that is clear. However, it’s worth noting this unit was one of the worst yards-after-catch groups in the league last year. Thielen, Legette, Coker and Moore can all play at the NFL level and produce, but this group is relatively slow compared to the rest of the league.
Legette, coming off foot surgery, needs to take a big step forward this summer, whether he’s considered the No. 1 weapon or not. Thielen is Mr. Dependable, but he needs to avoid injury and continue to be productive as he enters the season at 35. Coker and Moore had big moments last season, but both are probably better fits as role players at this point in their careers.
Outside of Chisena, who is a special teams ace, the rest of the group is probably battling for practice squad spots.
What it means for the rest of the offseason: To put it bluntly, this wide receiver unit — as currently constructed — just isn’t dynamic enough to put Dave Canales’ offense into the top half of the league’s rankings. Young needs a downfield threat like the Cookie Monster needs cookies. And the draft might be the best avenue to feed that need.
The Panthers looked into a DK Metcalf trade, but the demands were a bit too rich. Tee Higgins was never leaving Cincinnati, and the Panthers knew that. Brandon Aiyuk, who is coming off ACL surgery, isn’t likely to be an option after what Carolina went through with Brooks’ knee injury last year. So, the new potential pass-catching dynamo is probably going to need to come from the selection process.
Tetoria McMillian of Arizona and Matthew Golden of Texas could be available to the Panthers with the No. 8 pick in the first round. Missouri’s Luther Burden III and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka might be mid-first-round trade-back options. On Day 2, if the Panthers decide to spin that wheel again, Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor, TCU’s Jack Bech and Utah State’s Jalen Royals could be options.
Tight end
Tommy Tremble, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Jordan Matthews, James Mitchell, Dominique Daffney
Analysis: Similar to wide receiver, the Panthers have a solid base at tight end. Tremble and Sanders complement each other well, but it’s worth noting the group could use someone more dynamic. Still, it might be hard to upgrade wide receiver AND tight end in the same draft, especially with the way both prospect groups are viewed. That said, tight end is expected to have a much deeper class than wideout. If the Panthers miss out on a dynamic deep threat, they could improvise and go after a play-making tight end in the early rounds. As of now, though, Tremble will play the inline tight end spot, while Sanders should take on a “big slot” role in two tight end looks.
What it means for the rest of the offseason: At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Canales noted that he wanted versatility at the tight end position. Tremble has shown he is a good blocker and a solid receiver, while Sanders has shown he’s a good receiver and a solid enough blocker. The upgrades are available in the draft for the Panthers to improve in both aspects of the position, but it’s really a matter of how urgent Carolina is when it comes to filling out the room.
If the Panthers really want to go for the home-run threat, Penn State’s Tyler Warren could be a top-10 pick. Still, the value might not be there with the tight end position, so GM Dan Morgan could show some restraint and go for a guy on Day 2. Those options would include Miami’s Elijah Arroyo, LSU’s Mason Taylor and Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson, among others.
Offensive line
LT: Ikem Ekwonu, Brady Christensen, Brandon Walton
LG: Damien Lewis, Chandler Zavala
C: Austin Corbett/Cade Mays, Andrew Raym
RG: Robert Hunt, Jarrett Kingston, Ja’Tyre Carter
RT: Taylor Moton, Yosh Nijman
Analysis: The offensive line is the team’s deepest position by a country mile. With left tackle, left guard, right guard and right tackle all spoken for, the Panthers also have a group of notable backups at each position as well.
Corbett and Mays (Update: Mays signed his restricted tender Wednesday) will compete for the starting center job. The loser of that battle will be among the best backup centers in the NFL, and the Panthers could possibly trade that lineman with Christensen returning to the fold as a do-everything utility lineman.
Christensen, Zavala and Nijman make up a terrific backup trio, even without the backup center. Christensen can play everywhere at any given time, as proven last season. Zavala had some really strong moments filling in for Lewis and Hunt last year. And Nijman, who took a pay cut to stick around, has noteworthy incentives in his contract to encourage his performance when called on.
The team also likes Raym and Kingston quite a bit as developmental players.
What it means for the rest of the offseason: While no rush is needed, Mays has taken a while to sign his $3.4 million restricted tender. He’s unlikely to see that money anywhere else, even on a long-term deal. So, it’s considered a near certainty that he will be back in Carolina this summer.
And with Raym and Kingston in the mix, the Panthers don’t need to press on offensive line in the draft. If they can continue to develop those guys, the Panthers will be deep on the line for the foreseeable future.
This story was originally published March 24, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
