Despite winning the NFC South last season, the Carolina Panthers opened NFL.com’s Week 1 power rankings behind the New Orleans Saints, landing at No. 23 while the Saints checked in at No. 22.
Nick Shook pointed to a few unresolved questions as the Panthers head into 2026. “There wasn't much to glean from the Panthers' preseason, but I am fascinated to see how they distribute carries in the backfield between Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks.
Also, where does Xavier Legette fit into this receiving corps? And how much of a difference will Jaelan Phillips make on the defensive side?”
The Panthers finished 8-9 last season and needed help in Week 18 to clinch the division, so the title came without the feel of a dominant run. The offense was a bigger issue than the record itself. Carolina averaged 18.3 points per game in 2025, which ranked 27th in the league, and that number has to move up if the Panthers want to get back to the postseason.
Tetairoa McMillan is one of the biggest reasons for optimism. He won the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and the expectation is that he takes another step after getting stronger this offseason.
McMillan was the league’s top rookie in receiving yards with 1,014, in receiving yards per game at 59.6 and in touchdown catches with seven. He also ranked third among rookies with 70 receptions and set a Panthers franchise record for receiving yards by a rookie.
Bryce Young also enters the year with momentum. Last season, he posted 3,011 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, and he guided Carolina to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign. In a Panthers uniform, Young has now piled up 8,291 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 718 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
Carolina’s first test comes at home against the Chicago Bears to open the 2026 season, setting up a Bryce Young-Caleb Williams matchup that should draw plenty of attention.
There’s also a new wrinkle on the sideline. Brad Idzik will call offensive plays for the Panthers this season, his first year in that role after serving as the team’s offensive coordinator in recent seasons.
“He's definitely been aggressive, which is huge for us,” Young said about Idzik and his ability to guide the QB and the game, via ESPN. “That's a part of the offense we can build upon and we can expand in.
We have the guys -- I have all the faith in the world in our guys out there. So giving them opportunities down the field; try to be more explosive, more dynamic.”
In Other News...
Bryce Young Trade Still Haunts The Panthers For One Reason
The 2023 swap that sent the top pick to Carolina still hangs over the franchise because it has become one of the clearest roster-shaping deals in recent memory. The Panthers used the No. 1 pick on Bryce Young, while Chicago turned the haul into a stream of additions that has already included Caleb Williams, Darnell Wright, Tory Taylor, Tyrique Stevenson and Luther Burden, giving the Bears a wider set of contributors to point to as the trades immediate return.
Youngs early career remains the center of the conversation, especially when stacked against Williams and the way Chicago has stocked its depth chart from the deal. For Carolina, the sting is not just about what was given up but about how visible the other sides benefit has been so far, even if the final verdict can still shift as both quarterbacks and both teams keep developing. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Season May Come Down To One Overlooked Problem
The Panthers spent the offseason trying to give Ejiro Evero something he has not always had to work with: more defensive talent. Adding Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd was meant to strengthen a unit that Carolina believes can carry more of the load this season, especially after Evero has spent recent years coaxing production out of thinner rosters.
Now the question is whether those upgrades translate into the kind of dependable defense the Panthers are counting on. Carolinas plan leans heavily on that side of the ball, but the real test will be how quickly Evero can turn added talent into a more consistent and more complete group, because that could end up being the difference in how the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Just Entered A Huge Panthers Proving Ground
Bryce Young is entering a key stretch with the Panthers, and the team is in no hurry to rush into a long-term financial commitment. Carolina has been cautious with its quarterback situation, preferring to let Young keep building his case before making a major decision on his future. It is a familiar posture around the league for teams trying to avoid the twin traps of paying too early or moving on too fast.
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Panthers are deliberately taking their time rather than locking themselves into an extension based on modest production so far. If Young does keep trending in the right direction, the payoff could be substantial, with a new deal eventually landing in elite quarterback territory. For now, though, Carolina is treating the matter as a proving ground, and the next phase of Youngs development will carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]