NFL fans have finally made it through the long offseason.
The preseason is upon us, and the Carolina Panthers are shaping up to be an intriguing team as they look ahead to the regular season.
As the Panthers prepare for the upcoming regular season next month, here are four things to keep in mind during the 2025 NFL preseason.
The End of Last Season
Last season showcased some of the best football performances from the Carolina Panthers since 2017. This context is crucial for understanding arguably the biggest question mark on the team: quarterback Bryce Young. In the second half of the season, Young demonstrated exactly why he was the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. During the final three games, the team achieved a 2-1 record against the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and their rival, the Atlanta Falcons.
Young’s performance in these games was exceptional; he completed 57 of 88 passes for 612 yards and scored a total of 10 touchdowns without any critical fumbles, which had been a concern for him earlier in the year. This stretch represents the most impressive period of Bryce Young’s NFL career, statistically.
The last regular-season game was particularly noteworthy, as Young accounted for five total touchdowns in the Panthers’ victory over the Falcons. The outcome eliminated Atlanta from playoff contention.
While Young excelled in the latter half of the season, especially in that Atlanta game, the question remains whether he can sustain that level of play going forward.
Dave Canales Coaching Mentality Shift
In his sophomore season as head coach, Dave Canales is looking to change the team’s approach to the preseason. According to an article from David Newton of ESPN, head coach Dave Canales “announced on Friday that starters will play in the first two preseason games, just stopping short of admitting a mistake last season holding them out.”
This marks a shift from last year; during the 2024 preseason, the Panthers chose to keep their starters on the sidelines for the first two games against the New England Patriots and the New York Jets.
In hindsight, not playing starters in the first two preseason games was a costly mistake, as the team started the 2024 regular season with a 0-2 record, allowing a combined total of 113 points against them in the first two games. As a result, Young was benched, and Andy Dalton stepped in for a few games.
Eventually, Young regained his starting position and went on to succeed.
This shift in mindset means they now view preseason reps as valuable for both the offense and defense. Both sides of the ball have added several new players via free agency and the draft.
Another aspect of this mentality shift is Canales’ appearance on the show Up & Adams, hosted by Kay Adams. On Friday morning, Canales told Adams, “We need to be more aggressive on offense, especially because of how much I trust [Young].”
This statement reflects a new level of trust that allows the Panthers to start stretching the field. They can now have Young chuck the ball 30 yards down the field, allowing the likes of Tetairoa McMilian, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, or Ja’Tavion Sanders to make a play. This reduces the need for a heavy reliance on the run game, although establishing the run is still Canales’ specialty.
This is also a mentality shift in the way Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik are going to play-call, which will only help the Panthers in the long run.
Question on Offense
Currently, there are 12 wide receivers listed on the depth chart. You could play a 5-on-5 pickup basketball game and still have substitutes; that’s how many receivers are on the depth chart. Not everyone will make the roster come September, but I do believe the Panthers will try to keep as many players as possible, as the wide receiver position was a significant weakness on offense during the 2024 season.
Way-Too-Early Predictions for 2025 Carolina Panthers: Wide Receiver Edition
Although preseason games may not paint a complete picture, they can offer valuable insights into how the new wide receivers will fit into Idzik’s offense, especially since we haven’t seen them in action yet. This is when we will have the chance to observe notable rookies Jimmy Horn Jr. and McMillan and how they are integrated into the Panthers’ offense through live NFL reps. It is through these crucial live reps that things will become clearer as to who will be in the wide receiver room in 2025.
All of the Questions on Defense
Let’s address the elephant in the room: the Panthers had one of the worst defenses last season.
According to an article from WCNC Charlotte, the Panthers set a new record for points allowed (534). This achievement marks a significant moment in NFL history, which has spanned 105 years.
It’s safe to say that the defense has a lot of questions. Similar to the new wide receivers, this will be our first opportunity to evaluate whether coordinator Ejiro Evero has made any improvements to the defense. We will see new free agents Bobby Brown III from the Los Angeles Rams, Tre’von Moehrig from the Las Vegas Raiders, Patrick Jones II from the Minnesota Vikings, and Tershawn Wharton from the Kansas City Chiefs in game action. Having these starters participate in the preseason will help establish chemistry earlier, rather than waiting until Week 1 of the regular season.
When all is said and done, after the preseason, we will finally have clear answers regarding the Carolina Panthers’ offense, defense, and special teams. The team is striving to win the NFC South and make it to the playoffs by the end of the season.
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