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Panthers Reacts Survey: Who takes the NFC South?

Carolina Panthers v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

A quick check on three contenders for the Panthers division, plus the New Orleans Saints

With little actual newsworthy developments around the NFL in July, it's time to ask ourselves the important questions. We'll start with a simple one:

Who is going to win the NFC South?

You have three obvious contenders in the Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The New Orleans Saints are also notable for being present in the division. Let's break this down briefly by team before throwing y'all at this week's Reacts survey.

The Falcons​


Atlanta has a fascinating mix of youth, relatively new leadership, and hunger, given that most of their current employees, from players to coaches, where either employed elsewhere or in middle school the last time the Falcons made the playoffs.

They'll be a team to watch out for if they stop treating the quarterback position the same way they treated their defensive line when they had Matt Ryan: as an afterthought.

The Panthers​


Atlanta Carolina has a fascinating mix of youth, relatively new leadership, and hunger, given that most of their current employees, from players to coaches, where either employed elsewhere or in middle school the last time the Falcons Panthers made the playoffs.

After two years of steady additions in the offseason to shore up key weaknesses, the Panthers might finally be dark cat contenders in one of the traditionally weakest divisions in football. What an accomplishment.

The Bucs​


Tampa Bay seems, I don't know, fine? At least, that's the case at first glance. They haven't gotten substantially better or worse for years in spite of upheaval at quarterback and head coach. At some point, though, they are going to realize their roster is coasting on fumes.

I think that point comes this year by virtue of the fact that they are on an unprecedented run of success in the NFC South. They have won the division from 2021-2024 and, as a wildcard team in 2020, are the most recent Super Bowl champions in the division. The NFC South has been notewortht for years for chaos and shenanigans. A mini dynasty is the antithesis of that identity and should not be able to last much longer.

The Saints​


The Saints were members of the NFC West from 1970-2001. They joined the NFC South on its formation in 2002 and have remained in the division ever since.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Carolina Panthers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...buccaneers-atlanta-falcons-new-orleans-saints
 
Brian Answers: Lighting up some answers before all the fireworks

Arizona Cardinals v Carolina Panthers

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

We bring you another round of questions on July 4th!

Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! Its July 4th, you had a few really solid questions this week. If you happen to be chilling out by the pool or enjoying a BBQ, come for some light Panthers reading!

PantherBlueBlood: Will Chuba eclipse the 1000 rushing yards mark this season?

I’d actually go as far as to say 1k rushing yards should be the expectation for Chuba. He racked up 902 rush yards in 2023 and 1195 in 2024, a season where he was rewarded with a 4 year, $33.2 million contract extension. He also had 1135 and 1366 yards from scrimmage in those prior two seasons, respectively. While Carolina did opt to sign Rico Dowdle (also coming off a 1k yard rushing season) to a one year deal, and draft RB Trevor Etienne in the 4th round, the Panthers very much put their money where their mouth is with the Hubbard extension. If he remains healthy all season, 1,000 yards on the ground should be very doable. The only reasons I see it not happening are an injury, or Dowdle/Etienne take up more snaps than many have forecasted, which would bode well for the team anyway if the Panthers were to boast an effective 3-headed monster at that position.

right_turn_clyde: Which former Panther (player, coach, etc.) currently employed by another team will have the biggest impact (positive or negative) this year? I’m going negative with Jonathon Mingo because he’ll take up a roster spot without providing any value for the Cowboys.

I hate to do this, but I expect both Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield to turn in another season that makes the Panthers decision to part with them look bad. I could see Darnold also having the biggest negative impact if we see the version of him from the 2024 playoffs and not the almost MVP caliber year he had during the regular season. As far as non-quarterbacks, lets go with Brian Burns and Frankie Luvu. Burns is going to be on a defensive line that should take a ton of attention away from him and allow him to specialize as a pass rusher, which could see him getting a career high in sacks. Luvu is on a Washington team that seems to be going for broke to get into the Super Bowl, and they signed several defensive pieces to help around him, including long time great LB Bobby Wagner.

Bruce Guild: Do you ever see Brad Izik calling plays and truly running the offense on gameday or will it be that as long as Dave C is our coach he will maintain that role?

I don’t think that role is going to change any time in the near future. Part of the reason is Dave Canales definitely specializes on the offensive side of the ball, and he’s still growing as a play caller. Second part is he’s definitely allowed Ejiro Evero full autonomy with the defense. If Evero ends up getting a head coaching job (or fired), we could see Dave devote more of his attention to the defensive side on game days. But even if that never happens, and even if offensive coordinator Brad Idzik is handed the reigns as the play caller, its still going to have Canales’s philosophies all over it. He’s Dave’s right hand man, so it probably wouldn’t change a whole lot of the big picture aspects of the play calls.

allstarr: Hey Brian, will you name two NFL player’s names that you like or that seems to fit their position. One from Panthers teams, and one from the league such as Rocket Ismail, Booger Mcfarland, etc.

I always liked Chris Harris as a hard hitting safety for the Panthers and even for other teams. Chris “The Hitman” Harris just had a certain bite to it when you’d get the announcer call and him clocking a ball carrier/poor soul who got in his way.

Going back to the safety position, Brian Dawkins just had a name that seemed to fit his play style. Obviously, “Weapon X” was a great nickname too, but the name just fit so well with his hard hitting style. I’ll also throw in Bob Sanders and Kam Chancellor.

None of these names have any kind of word play connotations, but as a defensive back guy, the name just fit with the style of play they had on the field.

Schrodinger's black cat: What do you make of the Steelers’ off season? They’re maybe the most measured, patient franchise in the league. Is there any way to read this wild off season other than desperation? Is pinning some very short term hopes on a roster on the brink of retirement signalling the inevitable impatience of even the most patient ownership? Or even more significantly, is it possibly signalling the end of the Tomlin era?

I thought every decision they made before the Aaron Rodgers signing made sense from a long term outlook. DK Metcalf still has a lot of juice in the tank, George Pickens seemed to be the latest WR to need to move from, their Draft was very “Steelers-esque”. Then, they signed Rodgers, and then they traded for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith, while shipping off Minkah Fitzpatrick who I think has never gotten enough love as a safety. The moves only make sense if they think they will push for a Super Bowl this year, but then their moves prior to that didn’t really parallel with it. I think Rodgers held them hostage during the off-season so they really couldn’t pull the trigger on going for broke until they knew they had him or some other QB that could make them competitive TODAY.

@WTMealey: To get hyped for next season what game would you rewatch from last season?

What non playoff Panthers game do you think about most often when reliving former Panther glory?


Honestly, even though it was a loss, that Chiefs game was really exciting and my favorite rewatch from last season. The defense had a surprisingly good day against Mahomes aside from the waning moments of the game. Overall, a very solid and complete effort that definitely showed this team can step up in the future.

I’ll always love the 2013 regular season 49ers game, and the 2013 playoff clincher against the New Orleans Saints. Both embodied Cardiac Cats and really called back to stingy, tight defensive football. And if you have any friends who are Patriots fans, the 2013 win against them where Luke Kuechly made a totally smart, great, LEGAL defensive play will always be a highlight.

Happy 4th, Panthers fans! Enjoy the fireworks, stay safe, and KEEP POUNDING!

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...ting-up-some-answers-before-all-the-fireworks
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 64 Days to Go

NFL: JAN 05 Panthers at Falcons

Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

Hello CSR! I hope you all are enjoying your July 4th weekend! We’re continuing to countdown to the Panther 2025 season opener, and we’re 64 Days to go. So today, we’ll take a deeper look at number 64 for the Panthers: OL Cade Mays.

Mays came to Carolina as the 199th overall pick in the 6th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Since then, he’s played in 38 games with 15 starts between the guard and center positions. Last season, he actually took over for the Panthers starting center positions down the stretch, logging 100% of the snaps between weeks 9-18.

Cade Mays enters a battle for the center spot where he will compete with former starting center Austin Corbett, and 5th year Jack of all trades Brady Christensen. The Panthers have seemed to leave the center positions up to these three guys to battle it out and see who works out best, but Cade Mays definitely has a chance to take it. Corbett has struggled with injury problems, and Mays eventually overtook Christensen for the starting center role, and the Panthers offensive line didn’t miss a beat with him in the middle.

Who do you think will take the Panthers starting center job? Comment down below, and KEP POUNDING!

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...go-cade-mays-austin-corbett-brady-christensen
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 63 Days to Go

NFL: Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

There are 63 days separating us from the first Sunday of the 2025 NFL season. With that, we look at the players that have donned the 63 jersey for the Carolina Panthers, particularly current offensive lineman Austin Corbett.

Corbett joined the Panthers as a free agent after four seasons split between the Browns and Rams. The Browns made him a high second round pick in 2018 but apparently had little use for him, so they traded him to the Rams midway through his second season. He cemented himself as a starter in LA and won the Super Bowl there at the end of the 2021 season.

Corbett has dealt with injuries the last couple years after a strong first two years in Carolina. Even though he has only appeared in nine total games over the last two seasons, the Panthers elected to bring him back as the team’s preferred starting center. If he stays healthy, he’ll be a cog in what should be a dominant offensive line protecting Bryce Young.

The number 63 has a history of being associated with versatile interior offensive linemen in Carolina. Jamar Nesbit wore the number in the early 2000s while starting at either guard spot. Geoff Hangartner wore it during both of his stints with the team in the 2000s and 2010s during which time he lined up at both guard and center.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...opener-countdown-63-days-to-go-austin-corbett
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 65 Days to Go

American football - before the NFL game in Munich

Photo by Harry Langer/picture alliance via Getty Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open the 2025 season!

Hello CSR! We’re celebrating another July 4th around the sun, and a look at number 65 for the Carolina Panthers as we’ve hit 65 Days until the Panthers open the season. With that, we’ll take a look at offensive guard Ja’Tyre Carter!

Carter entered the NFL as the 226th overall pick in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft, selected by the Chicago Bears. He appeared in 3 games with 31 offensive snaps his rookie season, and 10 games with 2 starts and 176 offensive snaps in 2023. Then, he was waived right before the start of the regular season in 2024. He didn’t find a home for the remainder of the season, but signed a reserve/futures contract with the Panthers in January of 2025.

Carter is going to find himself in an uphill battle to make the Panthers roster, though he does have some valuable experience so far in his career. With the starting 5 offensive linemen set (aside from possible injuries) in 2025, that leaves about 5 backup spots for every position on the offensive line. The Panthers re-signed Brady Christensen and Cade Mays to compete at guard/center during the off-season, 2023 4th round guard Chandler Zavala returns after a much improved 2024 season as depth, and veteran Yosh Nijman was signed last season to fill in as a swing tackle for depth purposes. If all of those guys return (which is what I am projecting), that leaves possibly one spot for the other 5 linemen currently on the roster to fight for, and that’s as long as the Panthers don’t make any additional moves to fill in the back end of the group during Offseason cuts.

I think Carter has a great shot at the practice squad, but anyone who does manage to make that 8/9/10th spot on the 53 man roster should feel accomplished, as the Panthers have a lot of depth pieces with meaningful playing time returning to the roster this season. What are your thoughts on Carter and the back end of the OL depth chart, Panthers fans? And happy 4th to you all!!!

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...s-to-go-panthers-offensive-line-jatyre-carter
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 62 Days to Go

Dallas Cowboys v Carolina Panthers

Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

In this series, we’ll be counting down until opening kickoff by running through the Panthers roster by jersey number. Today’s piece looks at No. 62 for the Carolina Panthers, guard Chandler Zavala.

Before the Panthers

While most players that stick in the NFL hail from Power Four college football powerhouses, Chandler Zavala’s path to the pros started in relative obscurity. The 6-foot-3, 322 pounder spent his first four college seasons from 2017-2020 at Fairmont State where he twice was named First Team All-MEC.

His dominance at a smaller school led to him transferring to NC State for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was named First Team All-ACC during his final season with the Wolfpack. While he wasn’t selected to participate in the NFL Combine, the NFL’s draft projection website labeled him as a player with the potential to become an average starter.

His time with the Panthers

The Panthers selected Zavala in 2023 in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Through two seasons he has appeared in 27 games with nine starts, which is solid production for a mid-round draft pick. In all, he has played 572 offensive snaps in his brief career, making him a more important piece to the offensive line than many Panthers fans realize.

Zavala’s path to playing time decreased significantly last year after the Panthers invested a boatload of money in starting guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt, and the duo performed well in 2024. Lewis and Hunt will start for the foreseeable future, making Zavala a backup at guard alongside versatile veteran Brady Christensen.

But even as a backup who plays spot duty and special teams, Zavala is still a bargain. As a fourth round pick entering Year 3 of his four-year rookie contract, his cap hit for 2024 is just $1.2 million. His 2026 cap hit rises to just $1.3 million.

Chandler Zavala might not be a star, but the Panthers are getting exactly what they should have wanted and reasonably expected from a young, mid-round pick.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/2025/7/7/24461542/2025-season-opener-countdown-62-days-to-go
 
The Scratching Post: 7/7-7/11

NFL: NFC Championship-Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s this week’s open thread.

Greetings, internet users. Welcome to The Scratching Post.

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/2025/7/7/24460930/the-scratching-post-7-7-7-11
 
Brian Asks: Two weeks until Panthers training camp!

NFL: Carolina Panthers Minicamp

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Come ask all your questions in this week’s fan mailbag!

Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Asks, your weekly Panthers fan mail bag for everyone! After the July 4 holiday, we are officially two weeks out from Panthers training camp, meaning we can really start to speculate on what the 2025 iteration of the team is going to look like! We’ve been going strong with the mail bag every week, only days remain until there will be some meaningful news and developments we can really sink our teeth into!

you all know the drill, this mail bag is here for you to ask all your questions whether they be Panthers related, football related, or even completely off-topic! I’m happy to open the mail bag up to fantasy football as we’re getting into that part of the off-season as well.

Throw them out your questions in the comments down below, and I will answer them later on this week in part two of the mail bag. Let’s have a discussion, and KEEP POUNDING!

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/2025/7/8/24463538/brian-asks-two-weeks-until-panthers-training-camp
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 60 Days to Go

2005 NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

In this series, we’ll be counting down until opening kickoff by running through the Panthers roster by jersey number. Today’s piece looks at the current and historical players to have ever donned No. 60 for the Carolina Panthers.

Current Player: n/a​


The number 60 has not been a commonly worn number throughout the Panthers short history. I’m not sure why more guys don’t don the 60, but let’s look at the number’s history in Charlotte.

Notable Previous Players to Wear Number 60: Andrew Raym, Pat Elflein, Daryl Williams, Jeff Mitchell​


The most recent Panther to wear 60 was Andrew Raym last year. Pat Elflein was one of the “splash free agents” that Matt Rhule and Scott Fitterer brought in as soon as free agency opened in 2021. He battled some injuries but was the starting center for the two years he was here when healthy. Daryl Williams was one of the more successful players to wear the number 60 in Carolina. He became a full fledged starter in 2016, his second year in the league, and even earned a couple second team All-Pro nods at right tackle in 2017. After an injury took most of 2018, the Panthers tried moving Williams to the left side, both at tackle and guard. It did not work out, and he became another member of the Carolina North Buffalo Bills. Jeff Mitchell is likely the player most older fans think of when they think about the number 60. After three successful years with the Baltimore Ravens, Mitchell came to Carolina in 2001, helping anchor the offensive line that helped propel the team to a Super Bowl appearance in 2003.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...rs-2025-season-opener-countdown-60-days-to-go
 
Reacts Results: Panthers fans see a shake up in the NFC South standings

NFL: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Our fan poll has every team finishing in a different place from 2024

The early cat gets the. . . pirate? Yeah, maybe that doesn’t work. But Panthers fans do think that something Dave Canales and Bryce Young are doing is working. Nearly a majority of Panthers fans that voted in last week’s reacts poll nominated the Carolina Panthers as the team that will win the NFC South in 2025.

Finishing second in the South would be a major accomplishment for the Panthers and be seen as a major upset by the national punditry. The Panthers finishing first would be a true a Cinderella story, breaking the Bucs four season hold on the divisional crown.



Maybe it’s not a surprise that members of a community that exists to discuss and occasionally enjoy the Panthers believe in Carolina’s chances this year. Maybe it’s not a surprise that people have little faith in the NFC South’s ability to maintain anything that could be described as a “status quo.” Still, it’s a little wild that fans are this optimistic before training camp has even opened, given how poorly recent years have gone.

If we take this a step further and look at this prediction as a de facto prediction of the final standings in the NFC South then we find that we expect every team in the division to finish in a different place from 2024. As a reminder, last year’s standings saw the 10-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in first place, the 8-9 Atlanta Falcons take second, with the 5-12 Carolina Panthers barely edging out the 5-12 New Orleans Saints for third.

I’m not sure what has fans nearly twice as confident in the Saints chances as compared to the Falcons here. The Falcons at least nominally have a quarterback who has played quarterback before. Sound off in the comments if you want to defend the Saints or walk back your predictions of Panthers success lest they jinx our apparently promising season.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...ans-see-a-shake-up-in-the-nfc-south-standings
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 59 Days to Go

NFL: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

In this series, we’ll be counting down until opening kickoff by running through the Panthers roster by jersey number. Today’s piece looks at the current and historical players to have ever donned No. 59 for the Carolina Panthers.

Current Player: retired (Luke Kuechly)​


The number 59 is not currently worn by any Panthers player, nor will it ever be again. Luke Kuechly will likely be the first ever player inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame who spent his entire career in Carolina. While he did not get enough votes to get enshrined (80%) in his first year of eligibility this year, he is an automatic finalist next year after finishing in the top seven. Most people agree that it is only a matter of time for Kuechly.

Kuechly was drafted 9th overall by the Panthers in the 2012 NFL Draft. He immediately became an impact player, taking over the middle linebacker spot after Jon Beason sustained an injury. When Beason returned, the middle was Kuechly’s. And it would stay that way for almost a decade. Luke won the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012 and the Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. He made the NFL’s Top 100 list every year but his rookie season, topping out at 7th on the countdown following the Panthers 2015 trip to the Super Bowl. He was a seven time Pro Bowler and a five time First Team All-Pro despite only playing eight seasons in the NFL.

Kuechly finished his career with 1,092 combined tackles, 75 tackles for loss, 18 interceptions, seven forced fumbles, nine fumbles recovered, 12.5 sacks, a safety, and two defensive touchdowns (one fumble recovery and one interception). He compiled those stats while missing about 10 games due to various injuries including his well documented battle with concussions. In what is probably my saddest birthday memory of my entire life, Luke gave an emotional and heartfelt farewell to the game of football on January 14th, 2020.

Though his career was cut shorter than most would have liked, Luke included, Captain America will be visiting Canton soon enough. He joined the Panthers Ring of Honor in 2023, so no one else will ever don the 59 in black and process blue. I consider it an honor to have experienced his amazing career during my formative years of watching Panthers football. He and Cam Newton will always have a special place in my heart.

Notable Previous Players to Wear Number 59: n/a​


No other player in Panthers history has ever come anywhere close to being “notable” while wearing 59. It’s Luke’s number, and always will be.

LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKE​


Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...-season-opener-countdown-59-days-luke-kuechly
 
What is the future of the Panthers offensive line?

Green Bay Packers v Carolina Panthers

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The Panthers offensive line may be fine in 2025, but there are some future concerns that can’t go ignored

For a team who had rotated through decision makers who constantly preached a “building through the trenches” philosophy to team building, it was rare that the Carolina Panthers put their money where their mouth was. When Dan Morgan was promoted to General Manager and fans were once again promised that the building up the trenches was the number one goal for his first offseason, there wasn’t much confidence that it would actually happen.

Turns out he wasn’t lying. While the performance on the field might be debatable, Morgan’s first free agency affirmed his priorities as the team went out and spent over $150 million on the first day to bring in two above average guards. A couple desperately needed additions to firm up the interior of a line that rotated through double digit starters the season prior.

After those investments though, Morgan has yet to add any new consequential faces to the position group. No draft capital was spent on the offensive line during either of Morgan’s first two drafts and any money allocated for the offensive line in free agency in 2025 was spent to return the teams internal free agents.

In fairness, it was not for lack of trying. The Panthers brought in, or otherwise met with, plenty of lineman during the run up to the draft. In May, ESPN Insiders even noted “that if Mizzou right tackle Armand Membou was there [in the first round], the Panthers would have thought long and hard about it”. In the end though, the Panthers didn’t feel the need to force the issue and are relying on the returning group to continue their growth.

Time will tell if running it back with the same depth chart was the right decision for 2025, but if more investments do not start happening soon the Panthers might find themselves desperate and in trouble.

For the 2025 season, the Panthers are by far the biggest spenders on the offensive line thanks to the second years of Lewis and Hunt’s contracts combining for an over $36 million cap hit and the final year of tackle Taylor Moton’s contract accounting for another $31 million. Unfortunately, that’s the way it is in the NFL when you have not been able to draft and develop your own players - you’ve got to pay (or overpay) for guys other teams have developed.


most expensive offensive lines in 2025:

1. $95.3M - Panthers
2. $81.5M - Chiefs
3. $67.7M - Giants
4. $66.1M - Bears
5. $64.4M - Vikings
6. $63.9M - Lions
7. $62.3M - Broncos
8. $61.4M - Commanders
9. $60.0M - Chargers
10. $58.5M - Titans
11. $58.5M - Falcons
12. $55.8M - Eagles…

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 13, 2025

So, where do the Panthers stand right now and what land mines are they going to have to maneuver going forward?

Right now, the Panthers have Lewis and Hunt locked down for the next 3 years at a fairly consistent price tag ballparked under $40 million combined each season. Should they continue to perform as they have over their careers so far, no one will be arguing over that price tag.

Among starters, the next long term option is Ikem Ekwonu, the 2022 6th overall pick who has had a relatively up and down career thus far but has been trending upward since a 2023 outing that left plenty to be desired. Ekwonu had one more year left on his original rookie contract but the team has already picked up his fifth year option for the 2026 season as well. While the hope and expectation is that Ekwonu will be the Panthers left tackle of the future, the jury is still out. While his prowess as a road grader is well noted, the player’s inconsistent pass protection and tendency to draw penalties at the most inopportune times can have fans holding their breath during key moments.

After Ekwonu, the long-term plans for the line are murky. The team seems content letting Moton’s contract run out after this year without an obvious plan to replace him. He may not have attended a pro bowl or appeared on an All Pro list, but the veteran has been the picture of reliability since taking over at right tackle. He’s been a top 15 right tackle year in and year out despite all the turmoil surrounding him. Should they chose to let him seek another large contract from another team next year, the void he’ll leave behind could be devastating. Time is running out to find a replacement for the franchise stalwart.

Swing tackle Yosh Nijman was brought in during the same free agent class as Hunt and Lewis, but was underwhelming in his limited reps. With only 1 year and $3 million left on his contract that would save the Panthers $1.6 million if cut from the roster, he might not be in process blue come September.

Some may say that 2020 draft pick Brady Christensen could be the right tackle in waiting, but I have my doubts. While Christensen has been okay filling in wherever need across the entire offensive line, he’s never been exceptional or even above average. On a good day he can hold his own, sometimes slightly more than that. But he’s already approaching 30 (turns 29 in September), while his short arms and slighter build don’t match the presumed prototype the current regime looks for, and is only on a one year contract. That’s far too many red flags to have confidence in the player going forward.

The one position on the offensive line that’s truly a competition is center. In 2024, Austin Corbett began the season as the starter but for a third season in a row succumbed to a season ending injury after only a handful of appearences. Corbett does not lack for talent, but his recent injury history makes his long-term outlook practically non-existent. Christensen spent a handful of games spot starting at center but lacks the girth to hold-up there full time. But behind door number 3 is Cade Mays, a 2022 day 3 draft pick that played center for the first time in the NFL last year and played well enough to be named PFF’s 22nd best center. No parades will be hosted for that accomplishment, but average was an upgrade for the Panthers and Mays fits the size profile. He fit in well and produced with the opportunity during the last half of the season so eyes should be on the 26 year old Mays’ development in 2025.

2023 4th round pick Chandler Zavala could have been a potential starting guard for the Panthers going forward, if not for the investments made in Hunt and Lewis. Still, despite a dismal rookie season he stayed the course and played well in relief of the two starting guards when the opportunity came - posting a 71.2 overall PFF grade on almost 200 snaps. Zavala’s role right now is to be the back-up for the starting guard duo for the next two years. After that, time will tell.

The Panthers line has made great strides, and has plenty of untapped potential. But the job of rebuilding the unit has not been done yet and forgoing further investment may lead them back to mediocrity if they can’t continue their streak of relatively solid investments.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...-line-ikem-ekwonu-taylor-moton-austin-corbett
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 57 Days To Go

NFL: USA TODAY Sports-Archive

Peter Brouillet-Imagn Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

There are 57 days until the first game of the season for the Carolina Panthers. Today’s piece looks at the present and history of the number 57 jersey, which is currently being worn by rookie Bam Martin-Scott.

The rookie​


Martin-Scott. 6’2” and 231 pounds, is a 25-year old undrafted free agent rookie linebacker out of South Carolina. Projected as 4-3 outside linebacker by most pre-draft analysts, his biggest knocks as an older rookie are a lack of experience in college combined with limited instincts and middle of the road change of direction athleticism. He has above average straight line speed for his size and position and will most likely look to make an impact for the Panthers on special teams. as with most UDFAs, Martin-Scott has an uphill battle this summer to stick with the team.

The history​


Only two players of note have worn the number 57 jersey thus far in Panthers history, Lamar Lathon and Jordan Senn

  • Lathon wore the jersey for the first four years of the Panthers history. These were the last and most porductive of Lathon’s nine year career. After five years with the Houston Texans, Lathon joined the 95 Panthers and started all 48 games that he appeared in over the next four seasons. He recorded 23.5 of his 37.5 career sacks with the Panthers and earned a a Pro Bowl nod in 1996.
    Lathon, alongside Kevin Greene, set the tone for the early days of the Carolina Panthers defense. For more on Lathon, his life, career, and regrets, I highly recommend this Charlotte Observer profile from 2022 by Scott Fowler.
  • Senn was a six year linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts and the Panthers who briefly cracked the starting lineup in 2011. As a rotational player, he saw playing time in 66 games over four and a half years with the Panthers. After retiring in 2013, Senn went into medicine and is now a practicing physician in his home state of Oregon.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...ays-bam-martin-scott-lamar-lathon-jordan-senn
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 56 Days To Go

NFL: Carolina Panthers Minicamp

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

There are 56 days until the first game of the season for the Carolina Panthers. Today’s piece looks at the player wearing the number 56 jersey, linebacker Christian Rozeboom.

Rozeboom joined the Carolina Panthers on March 12th of this year when he agreed to a 1-year, $2.5M contract. He was an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State University, signing with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020. He didn’t make the final roster cut there, but did catch on with the 2021 Kansas City Chiefs. The Rams signed him off of the Chiefs practice squad and he stayed with them until entering free agency this season.

2024 was Rozeboom’s first year as a nearly full-time starter, starting 11 of 17 games. He recorded 135 tackles, one interception, four passes defensed, and one sack in that time.

Rozeboom, as with many of the Panthers veteran free agent additions this season, is more of a gamble on growing potential than a guarantee of talent. That said, he is also still the second most experienced linebacker on the team behind Josey Jewell.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...n-56-days-to-go-linebacker-christian-rozeboom
 
Panthers Reacts Survey: Identifying Carolina’s leading receiver in 2025

NFL: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Will the passing game level up or regress?

The Carolina Panthers’ abysmal 2023 season saw a floundering Bryce Young target Adam Thielen 137 times for 103 receptions. The next closest receiver was Jonathan Mingo, who was targeted 85 times and only caught the ball 43 times. Those accounted for almost half of Young’s 527 attempted passes. Last season saw increasing improvement as Young’s playing time increased but still showed an imperfect offense trying to find its footing.

Then rookie Xavier Legette led all Panthers receivers in 2024 with 49 receptions on 87 targets. That put him just ahead in volume and well behind in reliability when compared to Thielen’s 48 receptions on 62 targets. Most importantly, there were a handful of other receivers who received a significant share of the targets. Jalen Coker is the notable name among those other players as we enter the 2025 season.

Theilen, Legette, Coker, and 2025 NFL draft first round pick Tetairoa McMillan are expected to see the lion’s share of targets this season. Exactly how that share will be broken up amongst the four is anybody’s guess. Thielen is the old, reliable option. Legette has the biggest chip on his shoulder after an offseason spent discussing drops. Coker is the up-and-coming undrafted free agent on the verge of becoming something. McMillan is the exciting newcomer who could be the most talented of the group.

Vote in the poll here to tell us who will lead the 2025 Carolina Panthers in 2025. Then scroll on down to the comments to let us know how the rest will fall out and what your prediction is for each player’s volume this season.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Carolina Panthers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...dentifying-carolinas-leading-receiver-in-2025
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 55 Days to Go

2025 NFL Scouting Combine

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

In this series, we’ll be counting down until opening kickoff by running through the Panthers roster by jersey number. Today’s piece looks at No. 55 for the Carolina Panthers, defensive tackle Cam Jackson.

At 6-foot-6 and 328 pounds, Jackson has the requisite size to hold up in the middle as he begins his NFL career. He was selected by the Panthers in the fifth round (No. 140 overall) of this year’s NFL Draft as Carolina looks to further solidify the interior of the defensive line.

Jackson played five years of college football, spending his first three seasons with Memphis where he appeared in 34 games with 51 tackles, six tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. In 2023 he hit the transfer portal and spent two seasons with the Florida Gators where he played 23 games with an impressive 69 tackles, five tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.

After two solid seasons in the SEC, he was invited to this year's NFL Combine where his NFL-level size was on display, but his athletic measurables weren’t quite as impressive. His Relative Athletic Score of of 3.89 puts him near the bottom third at his position for athleticism. While his size is considered “elite” for the position, his Explosion Grade (vertical and broad jumps) were considered “very poor” and his Speed Grade was “okay”.

As a rookie fifth-round pick, Cam Jackson should have plenty of time to watch, learn, and develop before he makes a regular impact. The Panthers nose tackle role will be held down by new arrival Bobby Brown and veteran Shy Tuttle.

A successful rookie season for a fifth rounder usually includes making the 53-man roster and contributing on special teams. This is the role Cam Jackson will likely play in his first NFL season.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...on-opener-countdown-55-days-to-go-cam-jackson
 
Reacts Results: Rookie receiver bouys optimism for Panthers fans

NFL: NFL Draft

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

A lot of hope rests on the shoulders of Carolina's first round draft pick

A resounding 55% of Carolina Panthers fans expect Tetairoa McMillan, the eighth overall pick from the 2025 NFL draft, to be the team's leading receiver in just his rookie season. He received a convincing majority of the votes over the veteran-on-the-verge-of-retirement in Adam Thielen or the sophomore campaigns of either Xavier Legette or Jalen Coker.



These are heavy expectations for a rookie who has never played a snap in an NFL game. Still, there is a reason to believe. For all that this is one of the most talented receiving groups the Panthers have had in years--on paper--there are significant asterisks next to each of the four guys that made this poll.

Thielen, as mentioned, is not the youngest player in the league. At 34-years old, he is actually the oldest wide reciever in the league. His talent, history, and rapport with Bryce Young are undeniable, but it is wise not to expect him to carry the entire offense like he did in 2023.

The two second-year receivers, are the most intriguing to me in this survey. Legette, the team's 2024 first round pick, struggled with drops his rookie year. His 56% catch rate left a lot of balls on the field and an increasingly sour taste in fans mouths last year. Coker, on the other hand, lacks the athletic pedigree that McMillan and Legette boast, but posted a more reliable 70% catch rate. As an undrafted free agent, that was enough to capture the hearts of fans.

With reports of Legette spending extra time this offseason working on his hands, it appears he has improved his stock with fans. Twice as many expect him to lead the Panthers in receptions as expect Coker.

McMillan enters the scene as the most athletic receiver in the group. Combine that with a lack of opportunity to disappoint us as yet and, perhaps, it is no surprise that a majority of fans are optimistic about his chances to be Young's favorite target in the coming season.

Check out FanDuel, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...s-results-rookie-receiver-bouys-optimism-fans
 
Brian Asks: Slowly but surely getting to football

NFL: Carolina Panthers Minicamp

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Come ask all your questions as we count down to training camp!

Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Asks, your weekly Panthers fan mail bag for everyone! Last week, we had quite a discussion on music, specifically on the band Creed! This is definitely the spirit of the mail bag I was going for when we started this all last year, I love being able to talk about whatever is on Panthers fans minds.

you all know the drill at this point, this is your place every week to ask questions, whether they be Panthers related, football related, or completely off-topic! Comment down below with your questions, and I’ll be bringing you all the answers later on this week, and highlighting my points of discussion during the week.

It’s been a long off-season, but thank you for sticking along with us during it, we are just about there to training camp in the preseason. Comment down below and start the discussion! And KEEP POUNDING!

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/2025/7/15/24467994/brian-asks-slowly-but-surely-getting-to-football
 
Panthers Reacts: Surveying confidence before training camp

NFL: Carolina Panthers Minicamp

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Panthers fans have been riding an unfamiliar wave of optimism about the future of their favorite franchise since the end of the 2024 season. Bryce Young and Dave Canales put on a show together down the home stretch and Dan Morgan followed up by having a busy, if not wholly flashy, free agency and draft.

The end result is a roster that is in much better shape on paper now than it was a year ago with a small degree of trust in the current leadership to make that roster a little bit more than the some of its parts. That’s a breath of fresh air after the feeble final years of Ron Rivera, the constant excuses from Matt Rhule, and whatever that one year under Frank Reich was.

85% of Panthers fans were confident in the direction of the team coming off the high of the season finale against the Atlanta Falcons. That was over six months ago, now, with a little under two months remaining before the start of the 2025 season. A lot has happened since and a lot is left go before the Panthers touch a live football.

This week we simply want to assess how that confidence level has changed across the fan base. How confident are you now and do you feel like your confidence level has changed since January? Let us know how you feel and don’t be shy about expanding on that in the comments.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Carolina Panthers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...ning-camp-bryce-young-dave-canales-dan-morgan
 
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