2026 NFL free agency: Dowdle, Mays among 18 Panthers set to test open market
The Panthers ended their NFC South championship-winning season with a 34-31 playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday.
With the playoff campaign closed, it’s time to immediately turn to the future. Before the Panthers can upgrade their roster in free agency and the draft, they must consider their incumbent depth chart.
The team has 18 unrestricted free agents this offseason. Carolina also has to make decisions on four pending restricted and two pending exclusive-rights free agents.
The Charlotte Observer has listed all 24 players with predictions on their 2026 whereabouts:
(Note: This list has been updated following the waiving of safety D’Anthony Bell.)
Panthers’ 2026 unrestricted free agents
The notable names
G/C Austin Corbett
Corbett has had a whirlwind tenure in Carolina over the past four years, but this season was probably the most complicated stretch. He started the year as the top center before sustaining a knee injury that cost him four games on injured reserve. When he returned from the injury, he was supplanted by Cade Mays. However, Corbett was used as a utility fill-in starter at left guard, center and right guard for the remainder of the season. He was also named the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year winner this year, so he’s clearly valued internally by some pretty important decision-makers.
2026 prediction: Tests market but returns on a 1-year deal if he can’t find work elsewhere.
OL Brady Christensen
Christensen continued his work as the ultimate utility blocker in 2025. However, his season was cut short when he sustained an Achilles injury in Week 8. Christensen is valuable to the Panthers because he can play all five spots and knows the blocking scheme as well as anyone. Given his injury setback, he’s likely to be a cheap option for returning depth.
2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year deal.
RB Rico Dowdle
Dowdle’s season got off to a slow start. However, Chuba Hubbard’s calf injury in the second quarter of the season opened things up for Dowdle to emerge. After back-to-back breakout games against the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys, Dowdle supplanted Hubbard as the primary runner in the backfield. Coming off a career year, look for Dowdle to cash in on his productive season. It’ll be hard for the Panthers to pony up the dough with financial and draft-pick investments in Hubbard, Jonathan Brooks and Trevor Etienne.
2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere for a bigger pay day and better role
Long snapper JJ Jansen
Jansen is nearing the end of his career, but he rarely makes mistakes and is a better option than shuffling through undrafted rookies to find his replacement. If Philip Rivers can get a deal to play quarterback at age 44, Jansen should be fine signing another contract to snap footballs between his legs at age 40.
2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year deal.
P Sam Martin
Martin proved to be a shrewd addition for the Panthers in 2025. He was consistently good at flipping the field and showed no signs of slowing down. Again, why take a chance on a rookie struggling when you’re trying to be a long-term contending team?
2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year deal.
C Cade Mays
Mays is an interesting case. This same staff cut him to make room for a waiver-wire claim before the start of the 2024 season. He then got re-signed off the New York Giants’ practice squad when injuries occurred, and he played quite well as a starting center. He subsequently re-signed with the team this past offseason but lost the center competition to Corbett, whom Mays eventually replaced for the majority of the season. Mays should test his options on the open market, but he isn’t a lock for a huge contract given his inconsistencies on the Panthers’ depth chart over the past four years.
The Panthers might want to draft a starting center with all the money they have tied up in the offensive line in 2026 ($86.6 million).
2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere for a long-term deal.
WR David Moore
Moore spent most of the season on injured reserve with an elbow injury. He’s been a notable veteran leader in a young wide-receiver room, and Panthers coach Dave Canales loves him. He told The Processing Blue podcast in July that he didn’t want to play for anyone besides Canales at this point in his career. Moore is experienced, cheap and knows the offense, so he’s likely back on a short-term pact.
2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year minimum deal to compete in training camp.
LB Christian Rozeboom
Rozeboom had a rough start to the season. He was originally signed as a depth linebacker but was forced into the starting lineup following the abrupt departure of Josey Jewell before training camp. He was asked to be the signal-caller, and that responsibility seemed to hinder his ability to read and react. Once that responsibility was given to Trevin Wallace in Week 5, Rozeboom excelled. Still, it’s more than likely the team looks to upgrade the position this offseason.
2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
S Nick Scott
Scott was a 17-game starter in 2025. While he wasn’t necessarily a star on defense, he also wasn’t a consistent liability either. Scott is a notable special-teams contributor, and he’s shown he can be relied on with heavy defensive snaps. The Panthers will probably look to upgrade over him at starting safety, but the Ejiro Evero favorite still makes sense as a veteran depth presence if the coordinator sticks around.
2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year deal.
OLB D.J. Wonnum
Wonnum started 15 games in his second season with the Panthers. He produced four sacks in eight games in 2024, but he was held without a sack until Week 15 this season (finishing with three), despite a huge uptick in playing time in 2025. The Panthers certainly need to get better production at outside linebacker, and Wonnum will probably need to find a new home this offseason.
2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
Other contributors
LB Krys Barnes
After spending the first half of the season on the practice squad, Barnes became a fixture of the linebacker depth chart. He was mostly used on special teams, beyond a pair of spot starts due to injuries. Barnes was a healthy scratch for the playoff loss.
2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
T/G Jake Curhan
Curhan was thrust into the lineup in two of the biggest wins of the season. He was a positive fill-in during the upset win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, and he performed admirably as the starting right guard in the 31-28 home win against the Los Angeles Rams. He arrived in Week 3 off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, and he should be a cheap depth option on the open market.
2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year minimum deal.
CB Akayleb Evans
Evans was a season-long contributor on special teams as one of the team’s primary gunners on punt coverage. He will probably look for a better opportunity for playing time elsewhere.
2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
OLB Trevis Gipson
Gipson was one of a handful of players poached from another team’s practice squad this season. He played quite a bit during the second half of the season, but he probably won’t be in the team’s long-term plans.
2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
CB Damarri Mathis
The Panthers claimed Mathis off waivers from the Denver Broncos following the cut-down deadline. He tore his ACL during his first week with the team and never appeared in a game after going on season-ending injured reserve. If Evero remains in Carolina, Mathis could make sense as training camp depth on a prove-it deal.
2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year minimum deal.
OT Yosh Nijman
Nijman has served as the Panthers’ swing tackle for the bulk of his two years in Carolina. He’s proven to be a much better right tackle than left tackle when called upon to start. Starting left tackle Ickey Ekwonu injured his knee against the Rams, and Canales said he expects the ailment to be significant in nature.
2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year deal based on Ekwonu’s availability with knee injury.
CB Robert Rochell
Like Gipson and Curhan, Rochell was signed off another practice squad to fill in as emergency depth. He played on special teams when active.
2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere.
S Isaiah Simmons
The former Clemson standout signed with the practice squad in December and immediately received playing time on special teams. He was eventually promoted to the 53-man roster and played in the final five games of the regular season. Simmons will probably be back as a safety and special-teams contributor this summer.
2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year deal.
Restricted free agents
The Panthers have the option of tendering their pending restricted free agents to gain control of their rights. If the Panthers offer a first-, second- or original-round tender to a restricted free agent, that player will need to obtain an offer sheet from an opposing team to leave Carolina.
The Panthers will have the right to match the offer sheet and retain the player. If the Panthers choose not to match the offer sheet, the opposing team will obtain the player but will be forced to give up the value of the tender to the Panthers.
Players who entered the league as undrafted free agents can be given “right of first refusal” tenders, allowing the current team to match any offer sheet. However, if the offer isn’t matched, the incumbent team receives no compensation in return.
ILB Claudin Cherelus
A favorite of the coaching staff and front office, Cherelus has developed into a quality backup linebacker during his three years in Carolina. He is a notable special-teams contributor, and the team seems to be encouraged by his defensive upside. He started four games at linebacker during the second half of the season. Calf and ankle injuries unfortunately curbed a few of his opportunities down the stretch. Still, he started in the Panthers’ first playoff game since 2017.
2026 prediction: Re-signs to 1-year deal without receiving a tender.
OLB Thomas Incoom
Like Cherelus, Incoom is a staff and locker room favorite. He was Carolina’s best special-teams coverage player throughout the season, and he flashed as a pass rusher during training camp. He isn’t going anywhere.
2026 prediction: Re-signs to 1-year deal without receiving a tender.
TE James Mitchell
Mitchell earned a job out of training camp with a strong summer. But with three guys ahead of him on the depth chart, he only played in a handful of games.
2026 prediction: Won’t receive a tender and will look for a better opportunity elsewhere.
DE LaBryan Ray
Ray has played in more games for Evero over the past three years than any other defender in Carolina, including Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn. If he comes back, which seems likely, it won’t be on a pricey restricted tender.
2026 prediction: Re-signs to 1-year deal without receiving a tender.
Exclusive rights free agents
Exclusive-rights free agents can only negotiate with their current teams. If a player chooses not to negotiate with the Panthers, that player will be unable to sign elsewhere, unless Carolina relinquishes his rights by not offering him a tender.
WR Jalen Coker
The Panthers and Coker should consider reaching a two-year deal this offseason. With Coker currently set to become a restricted free agent next year, it would make sense for both parties to avoid a potentially awkward negotiation in 2027. If Carolina is thinking about the big picture, giving Coker the extra year, perhaps valued as a first- or second-round tender, is just getting ahead of a formality. He’s been a strong passing option for Bryce Young in each of the past two seasons. Coker is officially the team’s No. 2 wideout heading into the 2026 offseason after his phenomenal performance against the Rams.
2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 2-year deal to avoid restricted free agency next offseason.
WR Brycen Tremayne
Tremayne made the roster after a surprising first summer in Charlotte. He went on to become a top-tier special-teams contributor throughout the season. He also stepped up in several games as a receiver, especially as the offense tried to figure itself out in the first half of the season.
2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year-deal.
This story was originally published January 11, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
