The Carolina Panthers enter 2026 with plenty of promise and not nearly enough certainty, especially on offense.
That uncertainty starts where it usually does: at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. Bryce Young, Chuba Hubbard and Tetairoa McMillan are the three names carrying the load, but CBS Sports doesn’t see that group as one of the league’s stronger trios. In its offensive triplets rankings, Carolina landed at No. 28 overall.
“The Panthers moved up just one spot despite Young showing some improvement and McMillan putting together a very good debut season (70 catches for 1,014 yards and 7 touchdowns),” Dubin said.
“This ranking doesn't show much faith in Young to take the next step as a passer, and that's probably what's dragging Carolina down, in addition to Hubbard being largely uninspiring in the backfield,” Dubin explained.
That skepticism makes sense when you look at the pieces. Young is still trying to prove he can be the long-term answer, even after a 2025 season that brought career highs in completion rate at 63.6%, passing yards at 3,011, passer rating at 87.8 and touchdowns at 23. He also threw a career-high number of interceptions, and the overall line still doesn’t quite look like what you’d expect from a former No. 1 overall pick in his third season.
Hubbard’s situation is just as shaky. He finished with 511 rushing yards, his lowest total since 2022, and averaged 3.8 yards per carry. Rico Dowdle is no longer in the picture, but former second-round pick Jonathon Brooks is there to challenge Hubbard for the starting job.
McMillan is the one who gives this group real hope. After a rookie season that produced 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns, he has earned a longer leash than Young or Hubbard. The expectation is that if McMillan’s production dips in 2026, it will likely be tied to Young’s play more than anything else.
For now, though, the reality is pretty clear: the two most experienced players in the Panthers’ offensive triplet are also the ones holding it back.
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Former Panthers QB Will Grier Is Walking Away At 31
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For the Panthers, it closes the book on a player who never became a long-term answer but did get a chance to start two games in 2019 and stick around the league for several more stops. His career line now sits as part of the record, but the more interesting part of the story is what comes next for a quarterback who kept landing on his feet until he decided to step away. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Linked To A Receiver Who Could Bring More Than Help
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The harder question is whether the match would work beyond the depth chart. Aiyuk has not played since tearing his ACL and MCL in 2024, and his relationship with San Francisco has already turned rocky enough that the 49ers placed him on the reserve/left squad list and voided some guaranteed money. For Carolina, the appeal comes with a familiar warning attached, and the comparison to Diontae Johnsons time in Charlotte hangs over the conversation for a reason. [Read more 🡒]