Panthers’ biggest 2026 offseason needs: Outside linebacker upgrade tops the list
The Panthers are coming off their best season since 2017. But now isn’t the time to rest.
After setting a new standard for the organization in 2025, general manager Dan Morgan, head coach Dave Canales and their respective staffs need to raise the bar even higher.
While the Panthers improved in a lot of areas this past year, there is still plenty of room for upgrades on the roster. Carolina will be able to enhance its depth chart this offseason in free agency and the draft.
Here are the Panthers’ seven biggest needs entering the offseason:
Outside linebacker
The Panthers’ outside linebacker position group posted 11.5 sacks in 2025. While second-round pick Nic Scourton was the runaway defensive rookie of the year for the team, he needs a long-term partner in the pass rush department.
Princely Umanmielen flashed in his first year, but he seems to be a better fit for a third-down package. The Panthers can also afford to upgrade their weak side position over DJ Wonnum, who produced just three sacks on the season.
While Pat Jones (back) is set to return for his second season with the team, the Panthers need to fill out and improve the depth chart at a position that’s been lacking a consistent pressure creator since Brian Burns was traded in 2024.
Internal free agents: DJ Wonnum, Trevis Gipson
Potential external free-agent options: Joseph Ossai (CIN), Jaelan Phillips (PHI), A.J. Epenesa (BUF), Trey Hendrickson (CIN), Kwity Paye (IND), Arden Key (TEN)
Offensive tackle
Left tackle Ickey Ekwonu sustained a ruptured right patellar tendon on Saturday in the loss to the Rams. He will undergo surgery and face a long road to recovery. He is set to play on his fifth and final year of his rookie contract, so his long-term outlook is very much in question.
Taylor Moton, who turns 32 in August, is signed through the 2027 season. His outlook beyond that will be a wait-and-see approach. And Yosh Nijman, the swing tackle of the past two seasons, is set to hit free agency in March.
With all that said, it would be a logical move to re-sign Nijman. If he leaves for a bigger pay day, the next step would be finding stop-gap insurance for Ekwonu in free agency and/or drafting a left tackle for the future.
Morgan and Canales have yet to select an offensive lineman during their tenure. But the offensive line is expected to have an $86.6 million tab (third-most in the league), according to Over the Cap, even with five veterans set to test the market in the offseason.
Drafting a future left tackle would make sense because of the cost-controlled element.
Internal free agents: Yosh Nijman, Jake Curhan
Potential external free-agent options: Jermaine Eluemunor (NYG), Rasheed Walker (GB), Justin Skule (MIN), Braxton Jones (CHI)
Inside linebacker
The Panthers are likely to see major change at inside linebacker in 2026.
Trevin Wallace has battled shoulder injuries — notably ending both of his NFL campaigns on injured reserve due to those ailments — and inconsistency throughout his time in Carolina. While Morgan and Luke Kuechly have been mentoring the 2024 third-round pick, the Panthers probably need to upgrade over him with the top inside linebacker spot — or, at the very least, get some worthwhile insurance for his recovery from season-ending surgery. Wallace is at his best when he is playing fast as a complementary piece within the defense.
Also, with Christian Rozeboom set to test the open market in March, the Panthers have an immediate need in the starting lineup opposite Wallace. It would make sense for the Panthers to target a veteran with proven ability and production at the position. Rozeboom is probably a best fit as a sub-package player, and if he returns, he will probably be used in that role. Rozeboom could also serve as a stopgap starter if Wallace needs extra time to recover in the offseason.
Claudin Cherelus, the team’s third inside linebacker, is a pending restricted free agent. He is likely to be back as a proven depth piece on defense. Bam Martin-Scott, entering his second season, is viewed as a key cog on special teams.
Internal free agents: Christian Rozeboom, Krys Barnes, Claudin Cherelus (RFA)
Potential external free-agent options: Devin Lloyd (JAX), Nakobe Dean (PHI), Quay Walker (GB), Alex Singleton (DEN)
Safety
The Panthers used Nick Scott as a 17-game starter in 2025. Despite external calls for an upgrade throughout last year, Carolina stuck with Scott, and he played well enough in his role to avoid any sort of in-season demotion.
However, with the Panthers now looking to contend for the foreseeable future, it would make sense to improve the depth chart. Scott has proven he can handle heavy defensive snaps, but he’s probably best fit in a depth role. He’s also a pretty good special teams player, so limiting his defensive snaps could help in that phase as well — if he were to return as an unrestricted free agent.
Tre’von Moehrig and Lathan Ransom should continue to be part of the Panthers’ main safety trio. If the Panthers were to bring in a veteran in free agency, or a rookie with an early-round draft pick, that player could conceivably join Moehrig and Ransom on the back end.
The prioritization for that new safety should probably be in coverage skills, because Moehrig and Ransom are known more for their run-stopping and tackling prowesses.
Internal free agent: Nick Scott, D’Anthony Bell, Isaiah Simmons
Potential external free-agent options: Kamren Curl (LAR), Bryan Cook (KC), Jalen Thompson (AZ)
Center
The Panthers’ need at center largely stems from Cade Mays’ upcoming free-agent status. Mays had a solid 2025 season after replacing Austin Corbett in Week 3.
It’ll be interesting to see what Mays wants to do. The Panthers picked Corbett over him to start last season, and Carolina previously cut Mays to make room for a waiver claim to start the 2024 season. Mays, after two quality seasons as a starting center, might want to find a team that believes in him as a long-term solution on their offensive line.
Corbett and Brady Christensen are also set to test the market for a second consecutive offseason. Both veterans could be back on short team-friendly contracts. Still, it remains to be seen if the team views either as a long-term cog in the trenches.
Nick Samac is the only center under contract for the Panthers entering the offseason.
Internal free agents: Cade Mays, Austin Corbett, Brady Christensen
Potential external free-agent options: Tyler Linderbaum (BAL), Connor McGovern (BUF)
Wide receiver
Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker are entrenched as starting wideouts for the Panthers. But it’s fair to wonder what Xavier Legette’s role will look like next year after another season of struggles.
Jimmy Horn Jr. and Bryce Tremayne have a year in the system, but both young wideouts might be best fit in package roles. The Panthers could use some deep speed at the position, especially as Canales looks to push the ball down the field.
Look for the Panthers to try to add some speed and quickness to the position, particularly at the Z spot. With McMillan at X and Coker manning the slot, a deep-speed target could open up a lot of opportunities in the passing game.
Internal free agents: David Moore, Jalen Coker (ERFA – can only negotiate with Carolina), Brycen Tremayne (ERFA)
Potential external free-agent options: Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG), Alec Pierce (IND), Romeo Doubs (GB), Rahsid Shaheed (SEA), Tutu Atwell (LAR), Jahan Dotson (PHI)
Tight end
The Panthers seem to like their tight end trio of Tommy Tremble, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans. But if they want to be more dynamic in the passing game, they might need to upgrade over Tremble and/or Sanders. Plus, Sanders is coming off season-ending ankle surgery.
Evans looks like a keeper after a solid rookie season. But Tremble is entering the final year of his deal, and Sanders’ numbers regressed mightily from his 2024 season. There’s some wiggle room for improvement from elsewhere.
With James Mitchell set to become a restricted free agent, the Panthers could try to bring him back as well. Still, the safe money is on Morgan looking elsewhere for improved talent at tight end.
Internal free agent: James Mitchell (RFA)
Potential external free-agent options: Kyle Pitts (ATL), Cade Otton (TB), Isaiah Likely (BAL)
This story was originally published January 12, 2026 at 5:30 AM.
