The Panthers are back on the NFL Top 100 board, and the first wave of reveals already tells an interesting story.
For the first time since 2023, Carolina has a current roster player on the annual list, which is voted on by the players themselves. Former Panthers linebacker Brian Burns had shown up in past editions before being moved to the New York Giants ahead of the 2024 season, leaving the franchise without anyone represented for the last couple of years. That drought is over now, and with fewer than 20 players unveiled so far, Carolina has already landed three names.
That alone is notable. The order of those names is what really jumps out.
Bryce Young made the cut, which makes sense given how visible the quarterback position is and how much of Carolina’s season centered on his run of game-winning drives. Tetairoa McMillan, meanwhile, landed ahead of Derrick Brown, and that is the real eyebrow-raiser. McMillan’s Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign was strong, but Brown’s week-to-week production and status as one of the league’s top defensive linemen should have carried plenty of weight.
With more than 75% of the list still to be revealed, Carolina may not be done yet. A few more Panthers still have a path to making an appearance.
Mike Jackson is the longest shot of the bunch, but he deserves mention. He was one of the league’s most underrated corners last season, leading the NFL with 19 pass deflections and ranking fourth among corners in PFF’s season grades. His steadiness, reliability and knack for making plays in the biggest moments helped fuel the Panthers’ playoff push.
Devin Lloyd is a different case. He played the 2025 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but because he is on the Panthers roster for 2026, he qualifies here.
Lloyd broke out in 2025, finishing tied for second in the NFL in interceptions and drawing strong PFF marks. He was the only linebacker to post an 80.0 grade or better in run defense, pass coverage and pass rushing.
That production earned him a Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro nod. Still, with Jack Campbell already showing up at No. 88 as the first-team All-Pro linebacker, Lloyd’s chances look slim.
If Carolina gets one more player on the list, Jaycee Horn is the one most likely to do it. Horn also finished tied for second in the NFL with Lloyd and made the Pro Bowl, but he brings something else to the table: name recognition.
He was a top-10 draft pick, he has multiple Pro Bowls on his résumé, and he has built a highlight reel that gives him a real edge in what is, at least in part, a popularity contest among the players voting. With no cornerbacks revealed yet, Horn looks like the Panthers’ best bet for the next round.
In Other News...
Panthers May Finally Have A Real Tight End Answer For Bryce Young
The Panthers have spent years trying to patch together a tight end room that never quite gave Bryce Young the kind of reliable middle-of-the-field answer every young quarterback needs. Since 2019, no Carolina tight end has gotten to 500 receiving yards, which helps explain why the position keeps coming up whenever the roster is discussed and why potential fixes tend to draw so much attention.
A few names already sit in the mix as Carolina weighs whether to trade, shop in free agency or simply keep looking for the right fit. Michael Mayer has been floated as a more sensible trade avenue than some other options, while Darren Waller still has enough juice to make the idea interesting after flashing in Miami, including a strong showing against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium last season. Jonnu Smith, though, has emerged as the most practical target of the group, and if Carolina is serious about stabilizing this part of the offense, the choice may come down to whether it wants upside, familiarity or the cleanest path to making the position matter again. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Suddenly Linked To A Tight End Upgrade Bryce Young Needs
The Panthers have spent the offseason trying to make the roster sturdier around Bryce Young, adding help on defense with Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd and giving the future a little more upside with rookies like Monroe Freeling and Chris Brazzell II. The next obvious step is finding more reliable production at tight end, a spot that can make life easier for a young quarterback by cleaning up the middle of the field and giving him another dependable outlet when plays break down.
That is why the idea floating around ESPN caught some attention, even if it is still just that, an idea. Carolina has been linked to a potential move for a high-end tight end who has the kind of track record that would fit what the Panthers need, and Detroit's financial picture only adds to the speculation. Any deal would not be simple, though, because a trade would almost certainly have to come with real draft value and the kind of long-term commitment that turns a rumor into a major roster decision. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Newton Sounds Off After Troubling News About Former NFL Star
Chris Johnsons health news has landed with a jolt across the football world, and it has a lot of former players thinking beyond the diagnosis itself. The former running back carved out a remarkable NFL career from 2008 to 2017, highlighted by six straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons and a reputation as one of the fastest backs of his era, so hearing his name attached to a serious long-term illness naturally carries extra weight in league circles.
On his podcast, Cam Newton focused less on nostalgia and more on what comes next for the NFL and the people who played in it. Newton said he is very intrigued to see how the league responds and what its plan is to make the game safer while better protecting former players, a question that has only grown louder as more ex-NFL players have dealt with ALS. For Carolina fans, it was a reminder that the conversation around footballs toll does not end when a players career does. [Read more 🡒]