ITS DONE: Carolina Panthers have made a wonderful chance to the 2025 draft…see more
Let me start by saying I don’t believe this will happen. I have great faith in Dan Morgan and Dave Canales’ offseason strategy, and I think Carolina has a good chance of surpassing their Vegas-projected win total of 5.5 games.
However, there’s a real possibility that Carolina might end up with a top pick in the 2025 draft. Here are a few reasons why.
The 2023 Panthers had significant trouble pressuring the quarterback, finishing 31st in team sack percentage, just ahead of the Chicago Bears. This was partly due to game flow (Carolina was behind in every fourth quarter last season), but even when games were close, the Panthers struggled to disrupt opposing quarterbacks.
The team recorded just 27 sacks overall, and their top three sack producers (Brian Burns, Franke Luvu, and Yetur Gross-Matos) have moved on. Carolina has brought in veteran pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney, D.J. Wonnum, and K’Lavon Chaisson, but there are concerns about their health, past performance, and the depth behind them, casting doubt over Ejiro Evero’s pass-rushing unit.
In the secondary, Jaycee Horn is the only elite talent. There are solid veterans, but they’ll need to exceed expectations to handle the challenging lineup of quarterbacks they will face in 2024.
Ejiro Evero is one of the top defensive minds in the league, and Dave Canales made a smart move by keeping him as the defensive coordinator. However, even the best strategies can falter without the necessary talent, and Carolina’s defense may be too undermanned for Evero and Canales to succeed.
Again, I believe in Dave Canales and Dan Morgan. From an outsider’s perspective, there is a new energy on Mint Street that the franchise has lacked in recent years. However, both face significant challenges.
Neither Canales nor Morgan has experience as the main leader of a locker room or franchise. While Canales is praised for his work with quarterbacks, the head coaching role comes with much greater responsibilities. Morgan has nearly 15 years of front office experience but only a few months as the main decision-maker.
Patience will be crucial for a franchise relying on two rookies in key roles, and an impatient owner could cause disruption before Canales and Morgan have a chance to prove themselves.
Bryce Young was sacked 62 times last season, an absurd number that could break a lesser player. Young endured constant protection issues as a rookie and proved his durability despite his slight frame. Carolina has made efforts to improve his situation in 2024.
Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis have been brought in to protect Young on the interior. These experienced players come from successful offenses, and the hope is that they will keep Young safe and give him time to utilize his improved offensive weapons. However, there are still major questions on the offensive line.
Ikem Ekwonu showed Pro Bowl potential in his rookie season but regressed in his second year. Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen are competing for the center position, despite their limited experience there. Hunt, Lewis, and Taylor Moton are considered strengths, but an offensive line is only as strong as its weakest link, and Carolina may have two weak spots.
Things are looking up in the Queen City with Canales, Morgan, and Young bringing positive energy and a bright future to a city that needs it. However, the roster still has many issues, and if things don’t go well, all three could be on the hot seat by 2025.
