The Carolina Panthers head into 2026 with a problem that looks a lot like a strength on paper: the offensive line is expensive, heavily invested in, and suddenly being asked to hold together under new faces and new pressure.
That reality got even more interesting this offseason. Carolina added former Green Bay Packers starter Rasheed Walker on a one-year deal, then spent the 19th overall pick on Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling. Those moves matter because injuries to starting tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton could have blown up the whole operation.
Jordan Dajani and Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports put the spotlight on that uncertainty after slotting the Panthers 24th in the NFL. Their question was simple enough: how does this line hold up when it has to work with three new starters?
“A team not having its starting left and right tackles to begin the season would spell disaster for most teams, but not the Panthers. Free-agent addition Rasheed Walker will fill in for Ickey Ekwonu at left tackle, while first-round pick Monroe Freeling replaces Taylor Moton on the right side.
Carolina also has a new center in Luke Fortner, who takes over for Cade Mays. This unit was pretty good when healthy.
How will it look with three new faces?”
Right now, the honest answer is that nobody really knows.
What Carolina has shown in a tiny preseason sample hasn’t been encouraging. During the five drives Bryce Young has taken this month, the pass protection has been rough, and the run blocking has looked even worse.
If that carries into the regular season, it’s going to drag Young’s ceiling down with it. It also leaves Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks with almost no room to threaten 750 rushing yards apiece.
The Panthers don’t have a game-changing offensive star who can cover for shaky blocking, and they’ve already poured resources into this line. At this point, the best they can do is stay healthy and hope the group settles in fast.
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The interesting part now is whether the rookies early work is simply part of the learning curve or a sign that Carolina may have found a faster path forward than expected. Fortner gives the Panthers a veteran option, but Hechts preseason playing time has put a little pressure on that arrangement and left the center spot with a real mix of experience and upside as the regular season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
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Panthers Suddenly Have A Real Receiver Option To Help Bryce Young
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Bryce Young and the Panthers are still searching for reliable help at receiver, and Tillmans profile makes him an intriguing fit if the team wants another body with upside. The question is whether Carolina values his offensive potential enough to overlook the concerns that come with him, including limited special teams experience. For a roster trying to stabilize its passing game, that balance between upside and roster versatility could decide whether the Panthers make a move. [Read more 🡒]