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Kenny Pickett Kenny Pickett Moving on to Carolina
Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 5:32 PM
Pickett is slated to sign a one-year contract with the Panthers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Journeyman QB Andy Dalton remains under contract with the Panthers, but considering his guaranteed money ($2 million) is half that of Pickett's, the latter seems poised to be Bryce Young's backup in 2026 while Dalton could see himself cut for minimal cap savings. Since moving on from Pittsburgh after the 2023 season, Pickett has made 11 appearances (three starts) the last two campaigns between the Eagles and Raiders, completing 53 of 87 passes (60.9 percent) for 479 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions, rushing 14 times for 37 yards and one more score and fumbling twice (one lost). |
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Brycen Tremayne Brycen Tremayne Receives ERFA tender
Wed, Mar 4, 2026, 6:26 PM
The Panthers placed an exclusive rights free agent tender on Tremayne on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Tremayne will return to Carolina after securing 14 of 18 targets for 160 scoreless yards across 16 regular-season appearances during the 2025 campaign. In addition to his role as a depth wideout, Tremayne was a fixture on special teams for Carolina, logging 230 snaps in kick coverage. |
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Jalen Coker Jalen Coker Tendered contract by Panthers
Wed, Mar 4, 2026, 1:41 PM
Carolina placed an placed exclusive rights free agent tender on Coker on Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Coker will thus stick with the Panthers on a one-year deal through the 2026 season. He missed the first six games of 2025 due to a quad injury, then logged a 33-394-3 receiving line across his 11 following regular-season appearances. Coker's highlight performance came during his postseason debut, however, when he secured nine of 12 targets for 134 yards and a touchdown during Carolina's wild-card round loss to the Rams. With another offseason of development under his belt, Coker will be a genuine candidate to step up alongside Tetairoa McMillan as one of the Panthers' clear top wideouts during the 2026 season. |
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Andy Dalton Andy Dalton Drawing trade interest
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 2:20 PM
The Panthers have reportedly been getting calls about Dalton regarding a potential trade, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Analysis: Dalton has one more year left on his deal with Carolina, but as David Newton of ESPN.com suggests, moving the veteran signal caller could make sense for the team, considering GM Dan Morgan indicated Tuesday that Dalton would have to compete for the backup job (behind Bryce Young) with a younger QB to be added through free agency or the draft. Dalton drew just one start during four regular-season appearances with the Panthers in 2025, but overall, the 38-year-old, who entered the NFL as a second-round pick by the Bengals in 2011, has 169 regular-season starts to his credit. |
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Jonathon Brooks Jonathon Brooks Rehab going smoothly
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 10:02 AM
General manager Dan Morgan said Tuesday that Brooks (knee) is doing well in his rehab, and the Panthers are optimistic that the running back will be able to contribute in 2026, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Analysis: Morgan didn't provide any specifics regarding where Brooks stands in his rehab program for the right knee ACL tear he sustained in December 2024, but the 22-year-old at least appears to have avoided any setbacks in his recovery from surgery. A second-round pick in 2024, Brooks has appeared in just three games through two seasons, as he was delayed at the start of his rookie campaign while recovering from an ACL tear that he sustained in college in the same knee. Coming off a pair of major surgeries, Brooks will need to prove that his explosiveness hasn't been compromised as he aims to secure a role out of the Carolina backfield. The Panthers leaned primarily on the duo of Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard out of the backfield in 2025, but with Dowdle bound for free agency this offseason, Carolina could have an opening for Brooks to serve as the top complement to Hubbard during the upcoming season. |
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Rico Dowdle Rico Dowdle Uncertain to return to Carolina
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 8:13 AM
General manager Dan Morgan said Tuesday that the door is open for Dowdle to return to Carolina in 2026, but the Panthers will give him the opportunity to test the market in free agency, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Though the Panthers are seemingly keen on retaining Dowdle at the right price, it's possible that the franchise won't be able to afford the running back coming off his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season. If Dowdle heads elsewhere, Morgan expressed confidence in the remaining members of the running back room (Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks and Trevor Etienne) being capable of picking up the slack. After opening 2025 as the Panthers' starter before sliding to second on the depth chart, Hubbard had already moved back into a near-even timeshare with Dowdle by the end of the regular season and then handily out-snapped and out-touched Dowdle in the Panthers' wild-card loss to the Rams. |
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Tetairoa McMillan Tetairoa McMillan Named top rookie
Thu, Feb 5, 2026, 8:34 PM
McMillan was named the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: The Panthers selected McMillan with the eighth overall pick in the 2025 Draft, and he quickly emerged as Carolina's top pass catcher. Even with inconsistent quarterback play and low pass volume in the offense, McMillan topped 1,000 receiving yards in 17 regular-season games while reaching 100 yards in two separate contests. He could face similar obstacles in 2026, but McMillan will remain a key part of the offense and should earn plenty of targets. |
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David Moore David Moore Catches one pass in 2025
Wed, Feb 4, 2026, 5:56 PM
Moore caught his lone target for five yards across four regular-season appearances during the 2025 season.
Analysis: After posting a 32-351-3 receiving line on 57 targets across all 17 regular-season contests, including five starts, during the 2024 campaign, Moore was relegated to strict reserve duties this season. Now 31 years old, Moore is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next month. |
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Andy Dalton Andy Dalton Attempts 37 passes in 2025
Wed, Feb 4, 2026, 5:28 PM
Dalton completed 25 of 37 passes for 293 yards, one touchdown and one interception across four regular-season appearances during the 2025 season.
Analysis: Dalton made one start in place of an injured Bryce Young in Week 8 against the Bills but guided the offense to just nine points in a 40-9 blowout loss. Dalton will turn 39 years old later this year and is under contract through the 2026 campaign at a reasonable $3.9 million salary. He should be back as Young's backup next season. |
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Bryce Young Bryce Young Fifth-year option getting picked up
Tue, Jan 13, 2026, 11:05 AM
General manager Dan Morgan announced Tuesday that Carolina plans to exercise the 2027 team option on Young's contract this offseason, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Analysis: Young's fifth-year option is projected to come in at around $26.5 million and will be fully guaranteed. While the Panthers' willingness to pick up the option represents some level of commitment to the 24-year-old signal-caller, Young may need to make more dramatic strides in 2026 in order to land a long-term extension. He showed some modest improvement in Year 3, leading an 8-9 Panthers squad to its first NFC South title in a decade while directing six game-winning drives. Young completed 304 of 478 pass attempts for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions to go with 216 yards and two scores on 54 carries over 16 starts during the regular season. A respectable showing against the heavily favored Rams in the wild-card round this past weekend will also be a confidence booster for the QB heading into 2026. |
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Xavier Legette Xavier Legette Disappoints in sophomore season
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 2:56 PM
Legette caught one of four targets for eight yards during Saturday's 34-31 wild-card loss to the Rams. Additionally, he recorded 44 kick return yards.
Analysis: The 2024 first-round pick from South Carolina was one of six Panthers to catch a pass from Bryce Young during Saturday's loss, finishing with the fifth-most receiving yards on the team. Across 15 regular-season appearances, Legette caught 35 of 64 targets for 363 yards and three touchdowns, finishing the year as Carolina's third-leading receiver. Heading into his third season in the NFL, Legette likely will remain a depth option in the Panthers' receiving corps following the emergence of Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker during the 2025 campaign. |
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Tommy Tremble Tommy Tremble Career year in 2025
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 2:44 PM
Tremble caught all three of his targets for 22 yards during Saturday's 34-31 wild-card loss to the Rams.
Analysis: Tremble made his presence felt during the Panthers' wild-card loss, finishing as the team's third-leading receiver while hauling in all of his targets. The fifth-year pro from Notre Dame signed a two-year extension with Carolina last offseason and quickly validated the move, setting career highs in both receptions (27) and yards (249) during the 2025 season. With Tremble, Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle, IR) and Mitchell Evans all under contract for 2026, Carolina's tight end room will likely remain crowded heading into next season. |
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Ainias Smith Ainias Smith Staying with Panthers
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 12:34 PM
Smith signed a reserve/future contract with the Panthers on Monday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Smith appeared in seven regular-season games for the Eagles as a rookie, but the 2024 fifth-round draft pick was waived prior to the 2025 season and subsequently signed with Carolina's practice squad, where he spent the entire 2025 campaign. He will likely get a chance to compete for a roster spot with the Panthers in training camp in 2026. |
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Dan Chisena Dan Chisena Sticking around in Carolina
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 12:18 PM
Chisena signed a reserve/future contract with the Panthers on Monday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Chisena spent most of the 2026 season on Carolina's practice squad but was elevated for one game during the 2025 regular season. He has 38 regular-season appearances but just three catches in his NFL career. Chisena will likely get a chance to compete for a roster spot in training camp. |
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Rico Dowdle Rico Dowdle Another quiet showing
Sat, Jan 10, 2026, 9:12 PM
Dowdle recorded five rushes for nine yards in Saturday's 34-31 wild-card round loss to the Rams. He added one reception on two targets for six yards.
Analysis: Dowdle has been particularly inefficient to close the season, averaging only 3.3 yards per carry across Carolina's final four regular-season contests. He also lost his status as the team's lead back in the playoff loss, with Chuba Hubbard out-touching Dowdle 15-6. Dowdle is headed to free agency for the second consecutive offseason, and he is likely to be signed as a complementary back given his fade down the stretch after a strong start to 2025. |
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Chuba Hubbard Chuba Hubbard Two scores in playoff loss
Sat, Jan 10, 2026, 8:56 PM
Hubbard rushed the ball 13 times for 46 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 34-31 wild-card round loss to the Rams. He added two receptions on four targets for 13 yards.
Analysis: Hubbard worked as the clear lead back, out-touching Rico Dowdle 15-6. While he didn't break any explosive plays or work very efficiently, Hubbard did manage to punch in a pair of scores from one and three yards, respectively. He will be a difficult player to assess for 2026, as he worked behind Dowdle for much of the 2025 campaign. However, he regained a more significant role in the offense late in the season, while Dowdle is set to become a free agent. |
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Bryce Young Bryce Young Valiant effort in loss
Sat, Jan 10, 2026, 8:43 PM
Young completed 21 of 40 passes for 264 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Saturday's 34-31 wild-card round loss to the Rams. He added three rushes for 24 yards and an additional score.
Analysis: The Panthers have tried to hide Young for significant stretches of the season, relying on a particularly run-heavy offense. However, the game plan was more aggressive Saturday, as he reached 40 pass attempts for only the third time in 17 total games this season. Young showed particular rapport down the field with Jalen Coker, connecting for gains of 52 and 37 yards. He also scrambled for a 16-yard touchdown just before halftime while delivering a seven-yard passing score to Coker to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. While Young's performance has been volatile throughout the early portions of his career, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Saturday morning that the Panthers are expected to pick up Young's fifth-year option this offseason. That makes it very likely that he will enter the 2026 season as Carolina's starting quarterback. |
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Tetairoa McMillan Tetairoa McMillan Five catches in playoff loss
Sat, Jan 10, 2026, 8:29 PM
McMillan recorded five receptions on seven targets for 81 yards in Saturday's 34-31 wild-card round loss to the Rams.
Analysis: McMillan was overshadowed by Jalen Coker, but he still turned in a solid showing of his own. He particularly played a key role on a touchdown drive in the second quarter, logging consecutive receptions of 14 and 22 yards. Overall, McMillan closed his rookie season having topped 70 receiving yards in three of his last five games, setting him up to take a potential step forward in his sophomore season. |
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Jalen Coker Jalen Coker Big showing in postseason debut
Sat, Jan 10, 2026, 7:31 PM
Coker recorded nine receptions on 12 targets for 134 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 34-31 wild-card round loss to the Rams.
Analysis: The Panthers nearly pulled off the significant upset, and Coker was a key to the offense's success. He led the team in every stat and pulled in a seven-yard touchdown catch with 2:39 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Panthers the lead. Coker also chipped in long catches of 52 and 37 yards to record the highest single-game yardage total of his career, even more impressive considering it was his first appearance in the postseason. Coker missed the first half of the regular season with a quadriceps injury, but he looks capable of forming a solid wide receiver duo with Tetairoa McMillan in 2026. |
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David Moore David Moore Not playing vs. Rams
Sat, Jan 10, 2026, 2:27 PM
Moore (coach's decision) is inactive for Carolina's wild-card matchup versus the Rams on Saturday.
Analysis: Moore was just activated off injured reserve earlier in the week but will nonetheless be held out of Saturday's game. Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker and Xavier Leggette should continue to serve as the team's top receivers against Los Angeles, while Moore will look to suit up next week should the Panthers advance to the divisional round. |
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