Projecting Carolina Panthers’ initial 53-man roster ahead of 2026 training camp
The Carolina Panthers will start their roster evaluation process in earnest on July 22 when players return to Bank of America Stadium for the team’s annual training camp.
Following an energetic and competitive offseason program, head coach Dave Canales and his staff have an idea of what they are working with heading into the summer. But with more than a month in between mandatory minicamp and training camp, there could still be some alterations made to the group of 91 players.
For now, though, the team will take a long vacation before facing the gauntlet that is an NFL summer. By Aug. 30, they’ll need to decide on their initial 53-man roster.
The Charlotte Observer got ahead of that process and projected a 53-man roster based on what was seen and heard during the offseason program:
(Note: Rookies are identified in italics)
Offense (25)
Quarterback (2)
Who’s in: Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett
Who’s interesting: Haynes King
Young had a smooth spring, as he looked accurate and efficient in the pocket as a passer. He’s the unquestioned starting quarterback of the 2026 Carolina Panthers. Pickett signed a one-year, $4 million contract to back up Young. He had an up-and-down offseason program in front of the media, but there was nothing too concerning or captivating to glean overall.
King will be intriguing to track during the preseason, solely because he’s a rookie QB with athleticism.
Running back (3)
Who’s in: Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks, Trevor Etienne
Who’s interesting: A.J. Dillon, Tre Tyus
Hubbard will lead the running back room for a third consecutive summer. He looked the part in the spring, and he should be able to bounce back from a forgettable 2025 campaign. Brooks, who is coming off back-to-back ACL surgeries in the same knee, looked fluid, fast and functional during non-contact workouts in May and June. If he can maintain his health, Brooks will have a big role come September. Etienne, a 2025 fourth-round pick, will look to carve out a role on offense, while maintaining his gig as a returner on special teams.
Dillon and Tyus will compete to force the Panthers to keep four running backs. They’ll need to out-duel several special teams standouts to make that happen. Both competitors are also around as insurance for Brooks.
Wide receiver (7)
Who’s in: Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, Chris Brazzell, Brycen Tremayne, David Moore, Jimmy Horn Jr.
Who’s interesting: Ja’seem Reed, John Metchie
The Panthers have kept seven receivers following each of the past two cut deadlines. McMillan, Coker, Legette and Brazzell, a third-round pick, are locked into the depth chart. McMillan and Coker, who agreed to a long-term deal Thursday, will lead the charge at the position. Brazzell and Legette, a 2024 first-round pick, will be battling to be featured in the starting lineup.
Moore was a consistent presence for Young in the passing game during OTAs with McMillan (foot) sidelined. Tremayne, a 2025 training camp darling, also had his share of highlights and seems to be in good position to retain his role as a depth receiver and special teams ace. Of the receivers on the “who’s in” list, Horn feels like the most vulnerable, as he is a bit of a niche presence within the room. He will face notable competition in Metchie, a free agent addition, and Reed, a practice-squad holdover, among others.
Tight end (4)
Who’s in: Tommy Tremble, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Mitchell Evans, Feleipe Franks
Who’s interesting: James Mitchell
The Panthers have just five tight ends on their roster following minicamp. They’ll probably keep four based on precedent. Tremble, Sanders and Evans are core members of the tight end rotation, while Mitchell and Franks both have experience with the organization.
It’ll come down to the health and needs of the unit. If Sanders, Tremble or Evans suffers an injury, Mitchell’s offensive prowess might trump Franks’ special teams value. However, if all things are equal, Franks — who was voted the 2024 special teams MVP of the Panthers by his teammates — will probably get the nod.
Offensive line (9)
Who’s in: Rasheed Walker, Damien Lewis, Luke Fortner, Rob Hunt, Taylor Moton, Monroe Freeling, Sam Hecht, Nick Samac, Chandler Zavala
Projected on Physically Unable to Perform (PUP): Ickey Ekwonu
Who’s interesting: Saahdiq Charles, Stone Forsythe, Isaia Glass
With Ekwonu likely to miss a large portion of the season, the Panthers will stage a left tackle battle between Walker and Freeling. Walker took the bulk of the starting left tackle reps in front of the media this spring, but Freeling — the team’s first-round pick — should get his share of opportunities this summer.
Similar to Walker, Fortner, a free-agent addition, ran the show at center. Hecht, a fifth-round pick, and Samac, a 2025 holdover, should get their chances to battle in training camp. Lewis, Hunt and Moton will keep their longtime starting roles at left guard, right guard and right tackle, respectively.
The battle for backup spots will be interesting. Zavala, a 2023 fourth-round pick, has battled poor play and injuries throughout his tenure, but the team still seems to have some faith in him. Samac and Hecht might be a bit redundant, but both are quality long-term keepers if they don’t unseat Fortner. At least one of them will be inactive on game days.
Charles and Forsythe are a pair of well-traveled veterans who can play multiple spots. They also could be released before the cut deadline and be re-signed after the initial waiver-wire process without issue. Glass, an undrafted rookie, has some appeal in the long-term developmental sphere, similar to Hecht and Samac. Unlike Charles and Forsythe, Hecht, Samac, Glass and Zavala would all be subject to waivers if released.
Brady Christensen, who can play all five offensive line spots, looms large on the free-agent market. If he is able to recover from his Achilles surgery in time for training camp, he’d be a logical addition and upgrade over Zavala.
Defense (25)
Defensive line (5)
Who’s in: Derrick Brown, Bobby Brown, Lee Hunter, Cam Jackson, Aaron Hall
Projected on Physically Unable to Perform (PUP): Turk Wharton
Who’s interesting: LaBryan Ray, Jared Harrison-Hunte
Wharton (neck) will be eased back into action whenever he’s cleared. But it’s likely that clearance won’t come before the start of training camp. That said, the Panthers do expect him to play in 2026.
Derrick Brown, Bobby Brown and Hunter, a second-round pick, will lead the rotation. Jackson will be a primary backup, as he can rotate at nose tackle and defensive end. Hall, an undrafted rookie, had a terrific spring performance, and he fits perfectly in the hole created by Wharton’s injury. Hall has the best chance of making the roster of the team’s undrafted class entering training camp.
Ray has a lot of experience in Ejiro Evero’s defense, but he could be upgraded. Harrison-Hunte was dealing with an injury during OTAs, but he could make a push for a roster spot if he can return to form. Harrison-Hunte was nearly poached from the practice squad last year.
Outside linebacker (5)
Who’s in: Jaelan Phillips, Nic Scourton, Pat Jones, Princely Umanmielen, Thomas Incoom
Who’s interesting: Trevis Gipson, Nick Hampton
The Panthers invested a fortune in Phillips, who they hope will be a primary force on defense this year and beyond. Scourton, who had a strong rookie season, should benefit from Phillips’ ability to create pressure on the opposite side.
Jones is back after recovering from an early-season back injury that sidelined him during the bulk of his first year in Carolina. He should be considered a rotational player at outside linebacker in odd fronts and defensive tackle in even fronts. Umanmielen will be a speed rusher option, particularly on third downs. Incoom, a special teams ace, will be a primary member of the coverage teams on punts and kickoffs.
Gipson will need to force the Panthers to keep six outside linebackers over an extra defensive back. He’s got some chops on special teams and defense. Hampton, an App State alum, will need to beat out Incoom for the primary special teams role at the position. That’ll be an uphill climb, as Incoom is a favorite of the staff.
Inside linebacker (5)
Who’s in: Devin Lloyd, Trevin Wallace, Claudin Cherelus, Bam Martin-Scott, Jackson Kuwatch
Who’s interesting: Maema Njongmeta
The Panthers feel like they’ve upgraded the inside linebacker position significantly with the addition of Lloyd. The Pro Bowl linebacker should help improve Wallace, now entering his third season, similarly to how Phillips will impact Scourton at outside linebacker. With an alpha playmaker next to him, Wallace can focus on his assignments, instead of pressing to make up for the lack of talent around him.
Cherelus and Martin-Scott are core special teams players with defensive upside. Cherelus should push Wallace this summer, while also maintaining his role as a primary backup. The Panthers could also choose to bring in a veteran third linebacker, which would put Cherelus and/or Martin-Scott in a vulnerable spot.
Kuwatch, the team’s seventh-round pick, has a clear shot at a roster spot. His main competition for the fifth inside linebacker job is Njongmeta, a 2025 special teams contributor.
Cornerback (6)
Who’s in: Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, Corey Thornton, Will Lee, Chau Smith-Wade, Akayleb Evans
Who’s interesting: DeVonta Smith, Cam Miller, Tyrek Funderburk
Horn and Jackson form one of the best cornerback duos in the league. The Panthers, though, need to figure out the nickel position. Thornton, after a strong spring, seems poised to snatch that spot from Smith-Wade (again) this summer.
Lee took plenty of outside cornerback reps with the starters in OTAs. He figures to be the immediate backup for Horn and/or Jackson if injuries occur. Smith-Wade and Evans have plenty of defensive experience, and they both have special teams value as well. Smith-Wade has also worked with the safety group this offseason.
Smith and Miller are two undrafted rookies with quality upside and intangibles. Funderburk has length and experience, and he could be a dark horse this summer.
Safety (4)
Who’s in: Tre’von Moehrig, Nick Scott, Lathan Ransom, Zakee Wheatley
Who’s interesting: Isaiah Simmons
Moehrig and Scott will continue to start in the secondary. Moehrig will be used all around the defense as a moveable chess piece, while Scott will work the deeper part of the field. Ransom will rotate into the lineup similarly to last year, while Wheatley — a fifth-round pick — could carve out his own role within the rotation.
With Smith-Wade working with the safeties, Simmons’ job security is fluid. The Panthers kept him on the roster over Demani Richardson during the team’s playoff push last year because of his special teams prowess. He would not be subject to waivers if released.
Special teams (3)
Specialists (3)
Who’s in: JJ Jansen (LS), Sam Martin (P), Ryan Fitzgerald (K)
The vibes are high for the returning specialist trio, as none of them will face competition heading into training camp.
