RSS Panthers Team Notes

[Carolina Panthers]

CSR Weekend Warriors: 2/27-3/1

Greetings, Panthers fans. Welcome to the weekend.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/the-scratching-post/58299/csr-weekend-warriors-2-27-3-1

 

[Carolina Panthers]

NFLPA Report Card Grades: Panthers near bottom in 2026

The Carolina Panthers have spent the last few seasons turning around the narrative of the on-field product, culminating in an unlikely NFC South division crown this past season. Off the field, the players have not seen as much growth. While the Panthers overall rank rose from 25th overall in 2025 to 23rd overall in 2026, it is still a bit disheartening to see how the players feel about the team. The NFLPA was not allowed to release the 2026 report cards, but the individual letter grades were, unsurprisingly, leaked to the media regardless. Though the full descriptions have not yet been leaked so we can’t see the reasons why certain grades may have changed since last season, let’s take a deeper look into each category.

Treatment of Families​

The Panthers dropped from a B+ to a B in this category. Last year, players made note of the fact that the Panthers provide daycare during home games and a family room during home games. They also ranked the team at or near the top ten in “post-game family area” and “organizing family events.” While this is still a solid grade, it would be a good look for the team to provide more family support to players to help really cement the positive family-like culture the locker has.

Home Game Field​

This was a new category for the 2026 report cards, and the Panthers absolutely bombed it, scoring an F. While they weren’t the worst in the league (shoutout to the Tennessee Titans and their F-), I would love to know the criteria for this category. Notoriously bad playing surfaces like in Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington scored pretty well while many dome stadiums had middling scores. I don’t know if it’s a grass versus turf type of thing, but the Panthers have some work to do regardless.

Food/Dining Area​

The Panthers actually improved from a B to a B+ in this category. Last year, players referenced the taste of the food being quite good (10th overall), while the freshness and dining area both ranked in the bottom half of the league. The players praised the Director of Culinary, Tracie Hartman, though. It seems like the team made some improvements since last season, though we don’t know what those specific improvements were.

Nutritionist/Dietician​

The Panthers stayed steady here, scoring an A- in both 2025 and 2026. The individualized nutrition plans and accessibility of the nutritionist and dietician were the main reasons for this high score in 2025. That is probably the reason for the sustained success in this category for 2026.

Locker Room​

The Panthers saw a pretty steep drop in this category from a C down to D+. Last year, the size of the locker room and individual lockers was in the bottom half of the league, and I can’t imagine how the locker room got even worse. Maybe there aren’t enough showers or toilets or something?

Training Room​

The training room saw a slight increase in grade from a B- to a B. Staffing was middle of the pack in 2025 (physical therapists, trainers, etc), while hot tub and cold tub space was near the bottom of the league. This seems like a pretty simple fix, and maybe adding a tub or two is why this grade improved a little.

Training Staff​

The training staff also improved a bit, from a B+ to an A-. In 2025, players felt like they received enough 1-on-1 treatment and that the staff contributed to their overall success. This continues the trend of players really liking the actual people working with them while being less thrilled about the physical structures.

Weight Room​

One of the few structural aspects that was solid and improved was the weight room, rising from a C+ to a B. Last year, players acknowledged that there were ongoing equipment upgrades, so those upgrades are the likely reason for the grade increase. Still, players believe they are limited by the amount of actual space.

Strength Coaches​

The Panthers strength coaches have scored well the last couple of years, getting an A in 2025 and an A- in 2026. The individual strength plans and overall benefit to player performance is the main reason why. I’d be interested to know what caused the slight dip, but they still scored well overall.

Position Coaches​

This is another new category for the 2026 report card, and the Panthers scored pretty well with an A-. This is a good sign since the position coaches are the ones spending the most individual time with players working on their craft.

Offensive Coordinator​

The coordinators also got their own grades, and the players seem to like new offensive play caller Brad Idzik, giving him an A-. Dave Canales recently said that Idzik is the architect of the entire offense, so the players trusting him is a great sign. We’ll have to wait and see if his play calling helps or hurts his reputation.

Defensive Coordinator​

Ejiro Evero got a decent grade of B for his first report card. While we don’t know the specific elements players were asked about, we know for a fact some of the players disagreed with schematic choices, play calls, and snap counts (*cough* Princely Umanmielen *cough*). We’ll see if this improves now that Canales has more time on game days to check in on the defense.

Special Teams Coordinator​

Tracy Smith has been with the team for a few years and took over as the Special Teams Coordinator in 2024. For the 2026 report card, players gave him an A-. I, for one, like the fact that the players seem to like and respect their coaches for the most part. That probably improves the culture quite a bit.

Team Travel​

The Panthers have been consistently bad in this category, scoring a D in both years. The lack of space on flights and inefficient travel plans are the main reason for this grade. Apparently coaches moved to first class, knocking players back to coach. I can’t even imagine Derrick Brown trying to fit into a standard airplane seat.

Head Coach​

Dave Canales has scored an A- back to back seasons for the Panthers. Players feel Canales is efficient with their time and is highly receptive to locker room feedback. This tracks for Canales’ outgoing, player-centric personality. He seems to genuinely care about his players, and they seem to respond well to him.

General Manager​

Dan Morgan got his first appearance on the report cards and scored the highest out of every single category. Again, since this is a new category, we don’t know what the criteria was for the poll, but it is very promising to see Dan get his props. I think he’s done a solid job so far and seems to be a really good dude.

Team Ownership​

The category you’ve all been waiting for: ownership. David Tepper has gotten his fair share of bad press, and deservedly so. Luckily for him, the players seem to be turning a corner in regards to their opinion of the boss man. Tepper jumped from a D- last year all the way up to a B- this year, by far the largest improvement in any category for the Panthers. Last year, the players felt that Tepper lacked a willingness to invest in the facilities, did not contribute to a positive team culture, and was only somewhat committed to building a winning franchise. Each of those criteria put him at 29th or worse in the NFL last season. I do have to tip my cap to Tepper. He has been much more behind-the-scenes lately, allowing Dan and Brandt and Dave to do their jobs. He seems to be learning how to be a good owner, and that is a great sign for the team moving forward.

Overall Takeaways​

It seems like Dave Tepper has really put together a well-liked staff from top to bottom. The players gave rave reviews for the GM, Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, ST Coordinator, and position coaches. They also shouted out the training staff, strength coaches, and nutrition team. The players’ main gripes were about the actual facilities themselves, which is to be somewhat expected considering they work in a stadium that turns 30 years old in August. I don’t know how much renovations can help considering the framework they have to work with, so the team may have to eventually build a new stadium. Oh, and get a grass field, Tepper. Come on, please.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...port-card-grades-panthers-near-bottom-in-2026

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Summarizing the Panthers’ press conferences at the combine

The combine has been underway for a few days now, and the workouts have taken everyone’s attention. But prior to all that, the combine served as a gathering place for NFL decision makers and the media to interact with one another and get some nice juicy headlines for the offseason. Dave Canales, Dan Morgan, Brad Idzik, and even Brandt Tilis got at least one chance to get in front of a microphone. The Panthers posted around two hours of interview content. We hit the highlights to save you some time.

Dave Canales​

We start with Canales getting up on the podium to answer questions from various members of the media. Right out of the gate, Canales said he’s handing play calling duties over to Brad Idzik. He said the move is to free himself up to take more of a management role for the entire team on game days while also letting Idzik take another step as an offensive coordinator. He is already the primary architect of the offense, so it’s natural to let him call the plays. He talked about emulating John Harbaugh as a leader as a head coach. As for running the offense, he said his philosophy is about building what you think will create an explosive offense that will score points and then finding what parts of it tailor to the personnel you have, especially the quarterback. He wrapped up by saying that Dom Capers is departing to join the Browns.

Canales followed that by answering more questions from reporters in front of a wall. I don’t know why this was separate from the press conference, but whatever. There wasn’t much more of substance here, which is partly because it’s really hard to hear the questions he’s answering with all the background noise. The only thing was that he talked about the plan to add some competition to the quarterback. He predictably dodged a question that kinda dragged Andy Dalton for being slow.

Lastly, Canales sat down with Anish Shroff for a kind of internal one on one interview. There was more talk about the play calling handoff with Dave reiterating that he felt this was the best decision to make the Panthers better. He talked about prioritizing the development and recovery of current players to improve the team. Then comes looking for players that are culture fits that can be brought in to challenge the roster. When talking to players at the combine, he talked about looking for players with self awareness as those players tend to be the most likely to develop and reach their potential because they know how they got to how they are and know how to take the next step.

Brad Idzik​

With Canales announcing that Idzik is going to be calling plays this upcoming season, the latter obviously became a focus of media attention at the combine. And he obviously got asked a ton about his new role calling plays. He says he’s ready for the challenge, and he’s called plays in the preseason, so it’s not an entirely new thing for him. He was asked if he’s going to call plays from the sideline or the booth, and while he’s open to both options, he thinks he’s going to prefer calling plays from the sideline so he can have the pulse of the team.

Idzik also spoke with Drain Gantt, who has more flow with the hair than I realized. He again said he’s gotten reps in scrimmages during the spring and he’s looking forward to doing that again knowing that he’ll be preparing for that role in real games next season. He also talked about the influence his father, who spent nearly 30 years in various jobs around the NFL, has had on him. He found out that he was going to become the play caller by Dave Canales coming into his office and telling him while he was doing some self scouting. He wasn’t surprised because Canales has put so much emphasis on developing his staff and preparing them for their next steps, so he knew this was coming at some point.

Dan Morgan​

In his press conference, Morgan talked about trying to attack the linebacker position in free agency and the draft. He was asked about NIL in college, and he says it’s actually beneficial from an evaluation standpoint because it gives them a chance to see how a young player handles having a lot of money. It’s hard to hear the questions, but I think he was asked about Bradley Chubb and said it was a situation they would evaluate. He was asked about some other positions but generally kept going back to the idea that he’s trying to improve the entire roster. He did say he believes in Chuba Hubbard as a lead back and that the team is excited about both Jonathon Brooks and Trevor Etienne. He was asked about Rico Dowdle, and while he said that the door is open for him to return, the way he answered the questions seemed to suggest it’s very unlikely that happens.

In his in-front-of-the-wall press conference, he was asked directly if he liked linebackers and edge rushers at 19, and he said there will probably be players he likes at both of those positions there. He said the team is definitely bringing in a quarterback to “compete” with Andy Dalton. He seemed to suggest that they’re going to let all of their pending free agents see what’s out there on the market, but they would like to bring plenty of them back if it works out. He was asked several questions about Dave Canales and the transition to Brad Idzik as play caller and repeatedly said that he lets Canales make the decisions about his coaching staff and stays away from putting too much input there.

Morgan also spoke with Anish Shroff. He talked about the importance of acquiring players that show leadership skills and love football. As for the combine, it matters, but you don’t want to overvalue it relative to the tape. When drafting, he and the team will always prioritize the best player available, but tie goes to positions of need. He was asked about off ball linebacker scheme fits, and he said he doesn’t think it particularly matters what system they played in college. Offensive line was always going to be a priority, with or without Ikem Ekwonu’s injury.

Brandt Tilis​

Brandt talked to Anish Shroff about the Panthers roster and his moneyball approach. He said he had no real background playing sports at a high level, so reading Moneyball showed him that he could find a role in sports without being a good athlete. For the combine, he talked about the measurables having some role in the evaluation process, but it’s not going to completely override what shows up on tape. As for managing the cap, he said he is always looking a year or two ahead, so there’s no concern about what the cap looks like right now. He mentioned that the organization has not had extension talks with Bryce Young yet.

It’s interesting to hear Tilis talk. He’s clearly a very bright guy about football and math in general, not just the salary cap. The Panthers are going to want to keep him in the building as long as possible.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...the-panthers-press-conferences-at-the-combine

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Brian Answers: Draft prospects, trades, and more!

Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Western Michigan defensive lineman Nadame Tucker (DL61) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! We’re in full combine swing, meaning the Draft is only two months away! Of course, we’ll have free agency in between, but this week’s mailbag was all about tomorrow’s NFL Draft picks. Let’s dive right in!

DBelt: How do you think you would perform at the combine? I want specific numbers for the 40, vertical, shuttle, three cone, bench press, and I want a detailed breakdown of your hip fluidity in the on-field drills

I would do poorly. My 40 numbers were never great in high school, I think the fastest I ran was a 5 sec flat. Shuttle, three cone, and hip fluidity all would not be great because I’d likely trip up an old injury, dislocated a vertebrae in my back during my football days and one wrong flip can make it awful. But I did run a heck of a slant route, I’m tall, and I can kinda jump. So I’d probably get drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

@WTMealey: What two Panthers would you combine to make a better player?

They can play the same position and you just combine their best attributes and get rid of the negative

OR

They can play 2 different positions and maybe you pick one of those for them to play now giving player A some of Player B attributes that will make him better at his position

OR

If you combine them maybe now they play a 3rd position neither has played but now they would excel at it

I’d combine Nick Scott and Colin Jones. You’d have the best special teamer of all time, who can also be a 17 game starter at free safety, strong safety, or nickel corner when needed.

I’d also combine Jordan Gross with Ikem Ekwonu. You’d probably have the best left tackle of all time between Gross’s pass protection and Ekwonu’s run blocking ability.

bulletooftony: Brian, if there was one player who was found out to have a “mysterious heart condition”, and they fell to 19, who would it be?

Arvell Reese or Sonny Styles. Please and thank you.

KeepPounding88: What do you think is the most overrated or overhyped part of the Combine? Could be an individual drill, a storyline, etc

I kind of think the 40 yard dash is the most over-hyped, at least for the guys you’re drafting to be starters on offense or defense. How many times do they get to run straight ahead for a full sprint for 40 yards? Sure, there’s the Chris Johnsons of the world where that drill ends up upping their star power and paying off, but then you have plenty of John Rosses where that drill really didn’t matter a ton. For special teams, that drill makes sense.

I also am not a fan of how much the measurements of things like hand size and height are scrutinized. There’s definitely some merit to it, but people change entire draft projections over it. Just watch the tape, if tiny hands have an impact, you’ll see it there.

PantherBlueBlood: Do you draft a LT, Defensive Tackle, Edge or ILB at 19?

I’m definitely hoping the Panthers next starting interior linebacker is available at 19. Even if they sign one in free agency. They just don’t have enough there. But I would not be unhappy with any of the other choices. Left tackle may grind some gears, but they need a plan for Ekwonu and Taylor Moton in the future. It would be more of a forward thinking decision than an immediate impact decision (aside from Ekwonu’s injury rehab), and I am definitely in the camp of drafting for immediate impact. But any one of those positions makes sense. The Panthers are in the rare scenario where they have to basically wait to see how the Draft falls and make a decision.

Carolina Wine Mixer: Why is Jacob Rodriguez not a 1st rounder?

I linked the whole comment to see their analysis and subsequent comments. But ILB tends to be a position where they need to have top 5 potential to go in the first round. I certainly wouldn’t be upset if he ends up in Carolina somehow. But check out the link to see other Panthers fans thoughts!

Dcangio09: So what do Panther fans covet more in their center? Run blocking or pass blocking if you had to choose?

Another link to the full comment for additional insight and discussion. Personally, I like pass protection for a center, just because the guards tend to be the road graders on an offensive line. But a good center block on an inside run is always quality football.

schrodingersblackcat: Brian, what’s your biggest pet peeve? (CSR-related or otherwise. Rational or otherwise.)

I just want to preface this answer by saying this is not a shot at anyone who comments with questions, I really appreciate the participation and I encourage you to continue doing what you do. This column is only active because you all participate on a weekly basis.

I don’t like trying to predict trade ups or trade downs two plus months before the Draft, before free agency has even happened. Just because we don’t have enough information to really predict what the Draft is going to look like at that point. Teams will add players, re-sign others, and make trades before all of that. I also don’t like doing mock drafts until much closer to the Draft because again, things look very different a week before the Draft compared to in January. And the Draft never falls the way we expect anyway. I totally respect those who do enjoy that practice, but I am much more focused on what player the Panthers appear to have interest in.

dayneb12: Do you think Sonny Styles would be a player worth trading up for, and if so, how far up the board would be acceptable?

Sonny Styles seems like someone that would be worth considering for a trade up. I know, Trade Down Island is calling for my head right now. But Styles matches both a need and a high impact player, at least in theory. I’d be comfortable moving up to 10, but it would definitely cost the Panthers. And I’m just not sure they are in a position to make a trade like that. Way too many other positions they could use their draft capital on in the mid and late rounds.

That’s all for this week, Panthers fans! Join us again next week for another edition of the mailbag!

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...brian-answers-draft-prospects-trades-and-more

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Carolina Panthers discussion: Have you ever met a Panthers player or coach in real life?

We’re beyond the Super Bowl but not quite to the start of the new league year so it’s a somewhat quiet time in the NFL. Let’s pass the time by talking about the Panthers.

Where’s the most random place you’ve run into a Panthers player or coach, and who was it?

Join the conversation!​

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You could always tell us about any experience you’ve had meeting a Panthers player (or multiple players if it’s happened more than once) in real life.

Scroll down to the comment section below to weigh in with your experiences.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...-life-experiencese-autographs-fans-discussion

 

[Carolina Panthers]

The Scratching Post: 3/2-3/6

Greetings, internet users. Welcome to The Scratching Post and the new year.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread

Join the conversation!​

Sign up for a user account and get:

• Fewer ads
• Create community posts
• Comment on articles, community posts
• Rec comments, community posts
• New, improved notifications system!

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/the-scratching-post/58298/the-scratching-post-3-2-3-6

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Potential Panthers Picks: Post-Combine Risers and Fallers

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: Sonny Styles of the Ohio State Buckeyes participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In this article, we’ll take a look at players consistently mocked to the Carolina Panthers before the combine and how they performed in Indianapolis. For this list, we’ll be focusing on players consistently mocked to the Panthers, not players who pundits randomly have the Panthers taking in order to generate clicks or hot takes.

Risers​

Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State​

Styles was a player who might not have made it to 19 before the combine. Afterwards, it will take a miracle for him to last that long come April’s draft. He absolutely blew away the combine events. At the end of the weekend, he had notched a 4.46 40-yard dash, 43.5” vertical, 11’2” broad jump, 7.09 three cone drill, and a 4.26 short shuttle. He did all that while measuring 6’5” and 244 lbs. He also looked insanely smooth in on-field drills, leading some analysts to predict he actually gets drafted before fellow Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese.

Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon​

Sadiq has been a popular mock draft selection for the Panthers, which makes sense. The Panthers don’t have a tight end on the roster who has consistently shown the ability to be a game breaker in the receiving game. Sadiq measured well at 6’3” and 241 lbs, then absolutely blazed through a 4.39 forty. He also showed his explosiveness with a 43.5 inch vertical and 11’1” broad jump, all while cranking out 26 bench press reps. While the positional value might allow Sadiq to fall to the Panthers, this performance might entice a team in the teens to nab him.

Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF​

Every fringe first round edge prospect has been mocked to the Panthers at some point. Lawrence helped himself by putting on one of the best overall performances at this year’s combine for an edge defender. He showed he has the combination of size (6’4”, 253 lbs, 33 5/8” arms) and athleticism (4.52 forty, 40” vertical, 10’10” broad) combination that teams love to have on the edge.

Caleb Banks, DT, Florida​

Banks has been slowly getting more and more steam over the last several weeks, largely due to his potential. His physical testing just reinforced how physically dominant he could be at the next level. Banks was built in a lab: 6’6”, 327 lbs, 35” arms, 5.04 forty, 32” vert, and 9’6” broad jump. Those who saw Banks in person marveled at how well put-together he was physically, and his athleticism was on full display. Over the last couple of weeks, Banks has been potentially challenging the top ten, and this performance (assuming the medicals also checked out) plus his performance at the Senior Bowl might just catapult him into that range.

Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt​

A popular second round mock selection for the Panthers, Stowers is often considered TE2 in this draft. While he was never going to run as fast as Sadiq, he still put on a great show of speed for his size, running a 4.51 forty at 6’4”, 239 lbs. On top of that, he had an absolutely outrageous 45.5” vertical and 11’3” broad jump. If the Panthers don’t take Sadiq in round one, they better hope Stowers is still there at pick 51.

Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia​

The Panthers need a home run hitter on offense, and many mocks had Branch going to the Panthers in the second round. Branch showed the film speed is for real, running a 4.35 forty with a 1.5 second ten yard split. He also showed good explosion with a 38” vertical and 10’5” broad jump, both of which are impressive for a guy who is only 5’9”. One of the more impressive aspects for me was the 20 bench press reps considering the 225 lbs on the bench are more than Branch weighs.

Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech​

Rodriguez is a CSR favorite for the Panthers third round selection, and he may have to be picked a round earlier than that to guarantee the Panthers get him. While his size won’t wow anyone (6’1”, 231 lbs), he showed an athleticism that some scouts were concerned he might not have. He ran a 4.57 forty, had a 38.5” vertical and 10’1” broad jump, and ran a sub-7-second three cone drill at 6.9 to go with a 4.19 short shuttle. The speed, agility, and acceleration were all areas that teams weren’t sure would hold up against NFL players. Rodriguez proved that he has enough of those elements to match his insane college production.

Fallers​

LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama​

Overton was a player who many thought could sneak into the mid second round, right around where the Panthers are picking at 51. With the Panthers so desperately needing pass rush, Overton made some sense. He has a lot of positives to his game, but athleticism was one area he needed a good showing at the combine to lock him into the second round or even push for a late first round selection. While he does have decent size (6’3”, 274 lbs), he only ran a 4.87 forty. He was already viewed as a bit of a tweener, and that lack of athleticism has many wondering if he can stick as a true edge or if he’ll have to move inside to be an undersized five technique tackle.

R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma​

Thomas has the exact opposite problem of Overton. While his athletic testing was good (4.67 forty), his size is a little concerning for some teams. He only stands 6’2” and weighs 241 lbs. That in and of itself isn’t a huge issue, but it becomes concerning when you combine it with his 31 5/8” arms. He’s already much smaller than the offensive lineman he’ll be up against in the NFL, and his short arms will make it even tougher for him to disengage when his athleticism isn’t enough to get past a blocker.

Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State​

A lot of folks had McDonald as a potential late first round pick, probably sliding into the beginning of the second round. While he didn’t participate in athletic testing, he did do some position specific drills. Teams were hoping he’d show the athleticism to provide hope that he’d eventually grow into a three down defensive tackle, but his stiffness in on-field drills lessened that hope. If a team is going to take a nose tackle in the first round, he better be able to at least project as a halfway decent pass rusher in the future.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...anthers-picks-post-combine-risers-and-fallers