The Panthers are heading into camp with a roster picture that’s starting to come into focus, even if there are still a few spots worth watching. With rookies set to report on July 21 and veterans on July 22, Carolina is in that quiet stretch of summer before the real competition starts.
At quarterback, the expectation is simple: Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett. Dave Canales has carried two passers into September in both of his first two seasons as head coach, and there’s no real reason to think that changes now. That leaves the battle for a practice-squad spot between Will Grier and undrafted free-agent signee Haynes King.
The running back room is projected to stay at three, even with "Quad King" AJ Dillon drawing some attention because of the offense’s lack of short-yardage answers. Still, that isn’t enough to justify a fourth roster spot, and the room could soon be overtaken by Brooks.
Wide receiver is where things start to get crowded. Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, Chris Brazzell II and David Moore are all projected in.
Moore’s place looks secure as long as Canales is in charge, but the final two spots are less settled. Brycen Tremayne is the favorite thanks to his 6-foot-4, 212-pound frame and his value on special teams, while Jimmy Horn Jr. and John Metchie III are battling for the seventh jersey.
Tight end projects as a three-man group: Tommy Tremble, Ja'Tavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans. Carolina kept four tight ends in 2025, but that was tied to Tremble’s recovery from offseason back surgery. Feleipe Franks would be the first one out, though his special teams work gives him a real argument to stick.
Up front, the offensive line projection includes Rasheed Walker, Damien Lewis, Luke Fortner, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton, Monroe Freeling, Sam Hecht, Chandler Zavala and Stone Forsythe. Ikem Ekwonu is listed on the physically unable to perform list. Free agent Brady Christensen is the wild card here; if he’s cleared from his Achilles tear at the start of camp, he could rejoin the group and push Forsythe out because of his versatility and familiarity with the unit.
On the defensive line, the projected five are Derrick Brown, Bobby Brown III, Lee Hunter, Cam Jackson and LaBryan Ray, with Tershawn Wharton on the physically unable to perform list. Ray has earned trust from defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero after appearing in 46 games over his three seasons, but he may still have to hold off rookie Aaron Hall, who could be another undrafted gem for general manager Dan Morgan.
At inside linebacker, Carolina added a major piece in Devin Lloyd, a 2025 Pro Bowler, and he’s joined by Trevin Wallace, Claudin Cherelus, Bam Martin-Scott and Jackson Kuwatch. The depth behind Lloyd is still a concern.
Cornerback is projected to include Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, Corey Thornton, Will Lee III, Chau Smith-Wade and Akayleb Evans. Evans may end up mattering more than people think, both for special teams and because he can help on the outside if Horn’s injury history flares up again.
The safety group leaves Isaiah Simmons just short of the cut, though if he’s released, a quick return to the practice squad wouldn’t be surprising for the vested veteran.
And on special teams, Fitzgerald, Martin and Jansen appear locked in. They’re not expected to face any competition this summer.
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 🡒]