Panthers’ 4 biggest needs entering free agency

Much of the Panthers’ 2024 offseason should be spent on helping out Bryce Young.

The Carolina Panthers are fresh off tying an NFL record for the most losses in a 17-game regular season and produced one of the most cringeworthy offenses in recent memory. So, uh, yeah—they have some work to do this offseason.

To make it a bit simpler, let’s check out their four biggest areas of need as we inch closer to free agency.

Panthers’ 2023 rookie class ranked amongst worst in NFL

The Panthers didn’t get much of a return on their rookie class this past season.

Even with the No. 1 pick heading the pack, the Carolina Panthers’ rookie class fell far behind.

NFL.com analysts Eric Edholm and Chad Reuter recently ran back to the 2023 draft board and ranked last spring’s hauls. Down all the way at No. 28 are the Panthers, who received a ‘D+’ grade.

Edholm writes of first overall pick Bryce Young:

The prime disappointment was Young’s rookie season. The No. 1 overall pick started 16 games, and it was tough sledding for most of it. The environment seemed extremely unfavorable for learning on the fly, with the Panthers lacking elite weapons and cohesion on the offensive line. Carolina also fired head coach Frank Reich midseason, and it’s fair to wonder if turmoil on the coaching staff stunted Young’s growth. Tight end Hayden Hurst said after the season he thought Young had “too many voices in his head” during the trying season.

Young finished the campaign averaging 179.8 passing yards per contest with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. So, no, that’s not a lot of bang for Carolina’s big-time buck.

The Panthers didn’t get much of a return on the rest of the kids they drafted either. Wide receiver Jonathan Mingo amassed just 418 yards and no touchdowns, outside linebacker DJ Johnson had as many quarterback hits as your grandmother did, guard Chandler Zavala finished with the worst Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade (7.1) amongst all linemen with at least seven appearances and safety Jammie Robinson played in just 64 defensive snaps.

To add insult to insult, the Houston Texans—who picked behind the Panthers to start the festivities—ranked atop the list.

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Panthers left holding the bag in Christian McCaffrey trade

Last night’s NFC championship performance from 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey added even more salt to the wound for Panthers fans.

As long as you phase out what the Carolina Panthers did to get to the top of last year’s NFL draft, it’s difficult to think of a recent trade that has left more egg on the face of this franchise than their dumping of running back Christian McCaffrey.

In the middle of what was thought to be an absolutely lost 2022 campaign, the Panthers suddenly shipped off their star rusher to the San Francisco 49ers. What came back in return wasn’t too shabby of a haul—at least at first glance—as they reeled in second-, third- and fourth-round picks for 2023 and a fifth-rounder for 2024.

But what has happened with both teams since turned this deal into an inexcusable pin in Panthers history.

McCaffrey, who has now made the jump from a star in Carolina to an absolute superstar in San Francisco, just led his 49ers to the Super Bowl. Their NFC championship-winning performance was highlighted by his game-leading 132 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns.

And as for the Panthers, who could really use a fella like that for their young quarterback in Bryce Young, they’re fresh off finishing with the worst record and worst offense in all of football. Oh, and the running back they signed to a four-year, $25.4 million deal this past offseason had one of the worst seasons you’ll see from the position.

And as for the “haul” they received for McCaffrey . . .

  • 2023 61st overall pick: Traded to Chicago for the rights to the first overall pick (quarterback Bryce Young)
  • 2023 93rd overall pick: Traded to Pittsburgh for the rights to the 80th overall pick (linebacker DJ Johnson)
  • 2023 132nd overall pick: Traded to Pittsburgh for the rights to the 80th overall pick (linebacker DJ Johnson)
  • 2024 fifth-round pick: TBD

The outcome of this swap has become a painful showcase of how these two very different organizations have taken two different paths over the last handful of years. While Carolina strikes out with the wrong players at the wrong times for the wrong prices, San Francisco is picking up bargains and aggressively targeting elite talent.

With the Panthers searching for answers on offense entering the 2024 season, and the 49ers having their MVP candidate and Offensive Player of the Year favorite cruise them into to the Super Bowl, the deal represents a harsh sting in the arms of fans everywhere and a grim reality on where the franchise sits.

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Best and worst PFF grades from Panthers’ 2023 season

PFF’s best and worst grades for the Carolina Panthers in 2023

Pencils down, players!

With the 2023 test officially over, let’s see which Carolina Panthers received the highest and lowest grades from Pro Football Focus.

Top takeaways from Panthers’ snap counts in Week 17 loss to Jaguars

Trading up to draft OLB DJ Johnson was a head-scratcher back in April. It’s even more questionable now.

How did the New Year’s Eve looks pan out for the Carolina Panthers?

Here are our top takeaways from the snap counts in yesterday’s 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Vonn Bell inactive vs. Colts in Week 9

Panthers vs. Colts: Week 9 inactives

The Carolina Panthers have placed a grand total of 11 players on injured reserve this season, with eight coming on the defensive side of the ball. And among those eight are three of the team’s top four outside linebackers—Marquis Haynes Sr., Yetur Gross-Matos and, most recently, Justin Houston.

So, we may be seeing some relatively fresh faces this afternoon against the Indianapolis Colts, including third-round pick DJ Johnson. Johnson, who will get the starting nod for Houston, has seen his playing time increase over the past two weeks—as he recorded 24 defensive snaps in Week 6 and 29 in Week 7.

Plus, as expected, Luiji Vilain will be active for the team’s Week 9 outing. The second-year backer was signed off the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad and onto the Panthers’ active roster back on Oct. 24.

Carolina, additionally, elevated fellow outside linebacker Eku Leota. The undrafted rookie made his NFL debut in last week’s win over the Houston Texans, appearing in six snaps on defense and eight on special teams.

Also as expected, the defense will be without safety Vonn Bell—who was listed as doubtful with a quadriceps injury. Alex Cook, per Darin Gantt of Panthers.com, will likely start in his place.

Here is the complete list of inactives for the Panthers on the day:

  • S Vonn Bell
  • G Nash Jensen
  • OT Ricky Lee
  • CB David Long Jr.
  • WR Laviska Shenault Jr.
  • OL Brett Toth

And here’s who is out for the visiting Colts:

  • C Jack Anderson
  • CB Juju Brents
  • LB Zaire Franklin
  • OT Braden Smith
  • CB Ameer Speed

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Best and worst PFF grades from Panthers’ Week 8 win over Texans

Bryce Young’s winning performance in Week 8 yielded his highest PFF grade yet.

Do the Pro Football Focus grades feel any better after a win? Well, let’s see.

Here are the Carolina Panthers’ best and worst grades from their Week 8 victory over the Houston Texans:

Top takeaways from Panthers’ snap counts in Week 8 win over Texans

The Panthers let their 2023 draft class cook in the Week 8 win over the Texans.

It took long enough, but the Carolina Panthers finally notched their first win of the season on Sunday. Oh, and they also might’ve finally given us a little glimpse into the future.

Here are the top takeaways from Week 8’s snap counts:

Studs and duds from Panthers’ Week 8 win over Texans

Bryce Young and Frankie Luvu headlined the studs from the Panthers’ very first win of the 2023 campaign.

Who stepped up and who stepped off in the Carolina Panthers’ very first win of the 2023 campaign?

Here are the studs and duds from Week 8’s 15-13 victory over the Houston Texans:

Looking back at the Christian McCaffrey trade a year later

Here’s how the trade of Christian McCaffrey has panned out for both the Panthers and 49ers on its first anniversary.

A year ago today, the Carolina Panthers traded away one of the best players in their franchise’s history. So, how does the deal look on its first anniversary?

Well, shipping off superstar Christian McCaffrey actually looked quite good for the Panthers at the time. While McCaffrey certainly is no ordinary running back, reeling in the following package for a player at the polarizing position was considered a big win:

  • 2023 second-round pick
  • 2023 third-round pick
  • 2023 fourth-round pick
  • 2024 fifth-round pick

Here’s what each part of that haul has since turned into:

  • 2023 61st overall pick: Traded to Chicago for the rights to the first overall pick (quarterback Bryce Young)
  • 2023 93rd overall pick: Traded to Pittsburgh for the rights to the 80th overall pick (linebacker DJ Johnson)
  • 2023 132nd overall pick: Traded to Pittsburgh for the rights to the 80th overall pick (linebacker DJ Johnson)
  • 2024 fifth-round pick: TBD

So, yes, they used the most valuable part of the trade as the least valuable part of the package for Young—which also included two first-rounders, a 2025 second and wideout DJ Moore. And, yes, they used the third- and fourth-round selections to move up 13 spots for Johnson—who was (and still is) considered a reach.

Anyway, here’s how our old pal Christian ranks in a few stats amongst all non-quarterbacks since arriving in San Francisco:

  • Scrimmage yards: First (2,239)
  • Touchdowns: First (22)
  • Rushing yards: Second (1,537)
  • Yards after contact: Second (801)
  • Receptions: 21st, first amongst running backs (87)
  • Receiving yards: 51st, first amongst running backs (702)
  • Receiving yards after contact: ninth, first amongst running backs (169)

Additionally, the 49ers are 15-2 in regular-season games McCaffrey has played in and won a pair of playoff outings last year en route to the NFC title showdown.

As for the 0-6 Panthers, they’re also left with just over $18 million in dead cap on the year.

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