The Carolina Panthers’ latest unofficial depth chart offered a pretty clear snapshot of where things stand before the first official preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, and it came with a few surprises.
One of the biggest is at linebacker. Training camp has featured a real competition for the second spot next to Devin Lloyd, and while Dave Canales had said Trevin Wallace and Claudin Cherilus were battling for it, the initial depth chart gives Wallace the nod.
That’s notable because the assumption entering camp was that Wallace would simply slide into the role. Instead, the fact that he’s still listed to start points to a roster that doesn’t have much margin at the position.
The tight end picture is just as jarring. Darren Waller was signed after this depth chart came out, so he won’t show up on it until he’s ready, but even before that move, Ja'Tavion Sanders was already slipping.
At times, Sanders has looked like he could push for a starting job, but that idea has faded fast. He’s now behind both Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans, and with Waller added to the mix, Sanders may not even stick on the final 53.
For a player whose career was supposed to be trending upward, it’s a rough turn.
There’s also a troubling note on the defensive line. Cam Jackson, a former fifth-round pick, is listed in line to start, which says less about his own rise than it does about the players around him struggling to claim the job.
Lee Hunter was expected to be an immediate boost, and Aaron Hall was viewed as a near-lock for a roster spot, but neither has secured that status right now. That leaves Jackson as the default starter, which is not an ideal sign for a defensive front that has been searching for answers for a long time.
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