raleigh-panther

from the Athletic…one free agent replacement gone 
 

Ravens prepared to make Tyler Linderbaum NFL’s highest-paid center: ‘He is the best’

The question becomes. Can the team do better at Ickey at LT

i believe the answer is yes a d sadly the injury moves that along

it will be bpa I’m sure but if there is a decent OT at 19, have to do it given how GA looks for them

do I want a great Lb or Edge, yes but there is a little fella at qb 

Observer article    I left out the specialists which is the 3rd position 

Panthers haven’t drafted three positions under Morgan: Will that change in 2026?

Mike Kaye

[email protected]

4 hrs ago

The Carolina Panthers, two years into the Dan Morgan-Dave Canales era, have yet to draft an offensive lineman.

That is likely to change in 2026.

The organization has selected 

three wide receivers, 

two tight ends, 

two running backs,

two defensive backs,

two defensive linemen

and two outside linebackers 

during the shared reign of Morgan and Canales. Those multiple selections at several positions have come at the expense of the offensive line. But there are other positions that have been avoided, too.

With the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine ongoing in Indianapolis, let’s take a look at the three notable positions evaded by the organization over the past two drafts:

Quarterback

Last time position was drafted by Panthers:Bryce Young (first round, 2023)

Impending free agents at the position: N/A

Current depth chart under contract: Young, Andy Dalton
 

The Panthers can’t really be criticized for not selecting a quarterback over the past two years. The team invested a ton of draft capital in Young while trading up for the first overall pick in 2023.

Young has legitimately rebounded from a brutal rookie year and a whirlwind 2024 season that saw him get benched for roughly a third of the campaign. The Heisman trophy-winning passer posted career-high numbers in 2025, and the Panthers have already publicly noted that they will pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.

So, Young will be under contract through at least the 2027 season. His longtime veteran backup, Andy Dalton, is entering the final year of his deal.

Morgan hasn’t minced words when discussing his desire to add a younger QB behind Young. The Panthers are hoping to contend long term, and they’ll need to manage costs throughout the roster in order to retain their top-tier talent. Drafting a quarterback on Day 3 could provide the Panthers with a cost-effective backup for Young for years to come. That savings could then help them invest elsewhere.

Dalton is guaranteed $2 million this season. If he were to be traded, the Panthers would save $4 million on the salary cap. That’s probably not enough savings to force a move, but given Morgan’s outlook on getting younger, it could lead to at least some consideration.

Dalton, 38, could also be bounced if the Panthers decide to target it a younger journeyman QB in free agency.

The backup quarterback spot has some offseason intrigue for the first time in a while.

Offensive line

Last time position was drafted by Panthers:G Chandler Zavala (fourth round, 2023)

Impending free agents at the position: C Cade Mays, OT Yosh Nijman, G/C Austin Corbett, T/C Brady Christensen, G/T Jake Curhan
 

Current depth chart under contract: LT Ickey Ekwonu, LG Damien Lewis, C Nick Samac, RG Rob Hunt, RT Taylor Moton, Zavala, Ja’Tyre Carter, Joshua Gray, Saahdiq Charles

The Panthers are set at three of their five starting positions on the offensive line. However, their outlooks at left tackle and center are certainly unenviable.

Ekwonu ruptured his patellar tendon in the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams last month. And despite being due $17.5 million in the final year of his rookie contract, Ekwonu might miss a good portion of the 2026 seasonfollowing a notable knee surgery.
 

Mays, the starting center, is set to become a free agent in March. While he’s played quite well over the past two years, the Panthers might need to pass on re-signing him to improve other positions on the open market. Mays was cut by Carolina in 2024 and lost the 2025 center battle to Corbett this past summer. So, there’s reason to believe the Panthers aren’t totally sold on him being a long-term answer, either.

With all that said, both positions have quite a bit of fluidity.

Having Hunt and Lewis at the guard spots might make Morgan feel better about putting a rookie at center in 2026. The same sentiment, though, probably can’t be said about left tackle, as the Panthers will want to reinforce Young’s blind side with Ekwonu shelved.

Nijman is likely among the internal free agents who Morgan wants to re-sign, and if that pact happens, look for the Panthers to be patient at tackle in the draft.

With Christensen, Curhan, Corbett, Nijman and Mays all set to hit the market, the Panthers are likely to have several new faces on the offensive line depth chart in training camp. The Panthers will probably make multiple moves in the trenches during free agency and the draft.
 

Selecting a long-term swing tackle with starter upside — especially with Ekwonu set to hit free agency in 2027 — seems inevitable.

1 hour ago, strato said:

I think you might be selling Bevell a little short. He was with Miami  working for one of the better offensive minds in the league which isn’t nothing. He is a better sounding board than Idzik I would bet.  
 

not arguing about the rest of it or Canales, just saying. 
 

Just concerned about the dynamics and the ongoing obsession with the time on Seattle….why is Idzik still here…no idea what he does 

Dave as an OC is no fireball

his offense, bottom of the NFL the last two,years

year 3 has to be much better

i find it concerning that instead of bringing in a bright offensive mind, or fresh approach. He brings in yet another other bromance from Seattle and Pete Carroll

Dave is good in  a CEO kinda role but I’ve seen nothing that screams  ‘star OC’

i almost feel like his play calling has cost them a couple of games and in some of the others, the players did their thing 

3 minutes ago, uncfan888 said:

Obligatory 

yep. 10000 to 1 is better than 0 to 1

4 hours ago, MHS831 said:

I would consider Cam as a QB coach--he says what needs to be said in a positive way

I love most of his podcasts 

On 2/4/2026 at 7:08 AM, LinvilleGorge said:

I'm glad we're facing a #1 schedule. If Bryce regresses and sucks again we should be sitting pretty in what should be a much better QB draft class. Time to sink or swim little guy.

Yes

hus interviews have been very telling about getting the olay call to the like too late in order to make line, receivers, bacjs adjustments 

i think 2 things that would help him tremendously

1. Pre snap motion and thats on canales

2. More no huddle

offense is too damned stagnant 

oh yeah, getting the play call in quicker 

Is it possible they are using him wrong

seems to me he is fast, what 4:39 at the combine

he isnt shifty

send him on go routes and let him high point…thats why they drafted him, right

guy isnt a ballerina or a rocket scientist. If that is what they wanted, they drafted the wrong guy

just imo

8 minutes ago, Jackson113.2 said:

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article314593389.html

Carolina Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan has issued an apology for using the N-word on a livestream earlier this week.

 

“Yesterday, while on live stream, I used a term I should not have,” McMillan shared on his Instagram story on Thursday. “There’s no excuse for what I said — I sincerely apologize for speaking thoughtlessly and will do better.”

Welcome to the big leagues in which everything you say or do matters,  no matter how innocent or stupid 

Not as egregious as Kerry Collin’s but he should’ve known better.  He will learn 

the world still turns

Somehow seeing it pictorially hits differently 

Well.  Im glad for ole Charlie Brown

gotta say he had two of the worst coaching and franchise situations in a long time 

Despite making him cry on the sidelines, he has had nothing but good things to say about the fans and charlotte. How, i dont know

i wasn’t particularly kind to him either. He was so broken, painful to watch

good for Charlie. 

1 hour ago, MHS831 said:

We could/should re-sign BC and Nijman and draft 2. 

There are 5 or 6 expected to go after round 1 that I really like.   Some are a year away, so I would give Moton an apprentice now.

i agree with you 

I like Brady. Always have

but coming off an Achilles is no walk in the park 

they need reliable, available, teachable 

it doesnt have to be top 10 or top 15   Just steady and predictable 

It is hard to argue what the Panthers need…and of,course, the scouts and Morgan, Tillis look several years ahead

To me, offensive tackle is huge 

they are very expensive, hard to find 

Moton’s contract will also become problematic in 2027…not sure he will make it to 2027 in any case 

a rookie contract for OT could make all things better from a dependability, flexibility, depth, and cost perspective 

On 2/1/2026 at 9:35 AM, Panthero said:

Based on these numbers, Id cut the guy if you can avoid paying him 17 million for a 5th year.

Exactly right 

On 1/31/2026 at 8:05 AM, MHS831 said:

I see your view, but the fact that the time of recovery is straddling a contract makes it interesting/complicated.  Those other OL in this report are older players...but I would not want to be Morgan.  I would base my decisions on the statistical probabilities.  I would move him to guard--I would have considered it anyway if a better OT came our way.

Sometimes, a franchise has to cut bait and move on

icky is serviceable but he has flaws  

this isn’t a guard or a linebacker, or a safety

it is a blind side protector of a very tiny qb

Too. Moton is also getting older and he missed some games or parts of games this year   As that knee wears down, we know the end of that story 

and Christiansen is coming off an Achilles injury 

All of this means, we have one clear swing tackle in Yosh, and doubt he is an every down player and if he goes down, then what ?  

if I’m the Panthers, I go best available tackle in rd 1 or 2 and pick up free agents for backups 

keep the strengths strong    It isn’t like the team has Josh Allen behind that line either 

On 1/30/2026 at 4:38 AM, frankw said:

6 yards per attempt after 3 seasons.

For historical reference.

That….

is truly depressing 

Carolina spent draft picks on Shrine Bowl alums, tight end Mitchell Evans and Jimmy Horn Jr., last year. The Panthers have also had success in recent years with finding undrafted talent (Jalen Coker, Bam Martin-Scott and Jared Harrison-Hunte) at the annual all-star game.
 

1. Jaden Dugger, ILB, Louisiana (East)

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound linebacker made the play of the day on Saturday with a pick in 11-on-11 drills. He also had an interception in 11-on-11 work on Sunday as well. He has long arms and a nastiness to him. While he stands out as a big, tall player at his position, his instincts and lateral quickness in practice were just as impressive as his size. His nearly 35-inch arms also help him clear out traffic in the box and make up space in coverage. Dugger had seven sacks in two years at Louisiana.

2. Jalen Huskey, DB, Maryland (West)

The 6-foot-1, 199-pound safety had a strong Saturday workout. He broke up a pass in 7-on-7 coverage drills early in the practice. Later, he made a diving pass breakup in the end zone during 11-on-11 red zone drills. Huskey has some grittiness to his game, but his coverage was his strength in Frisco. Huskey had 11 interceptions during his college career, which began at Bowling Green.

3. Mason Reiger, OLB/DE, Wisconsin (East)

At 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, Reiger’s “get off” as an edge rusher is lightning quick. He was able to get the better of Penn State offensive tackle Nolan Rucci on a couple of occasions in team drills on Sunday. When Reiger can win with speed, it allows him to set up other rushing approaches throughout a matchup. During one rep, he blazed off the line before hitting a spin move mid-rush, which led to immediate pressure on the opposing QB in 11-on-11 drills. Reiger spent his first four years at Louisville before transferring to Wisconsin this past season. He had 13 career sacks in four seasons on defense.

4. Eric Rivers, WR, Georgia Tech (West)

Rivers was a big play machine during the first three days of workouts. And when he wasn’t catching passes, he was drawing penalties on defenders. While he stands a hair under 5-foot-10 and weighs 179 pounds, Rivers plays like a much bigger receiver. He has excellent body control and leaping ability, and he uses his compact frame well to ward off defenders with the ball in the air. He won on several different routes, and he has quality burst off the line. Rivers reminds this beat writer of Brandin Cooks a lot. Rivers spent two years at Florida International before transferring to Georgia Tech this past season. He had 2,173 yards and 16 touchdowns during his three years of college ball.
 

5. Chip Trayanum, RB, Toledo (East)

It’s one thing to see impressive natural speed with a running back. It’s another to watch a ball-carrier glide as a runner. Trayanum has a glide to his game. He did a nice job catching the ball during team drills. He also made some impressive cuts out of the backfield. Trayanum appears to be a guy that’s capable of playing all three downs. Trayanum played six college seasons with four different programs, but he produced 1,015 rushing yards during his one year at Toledo.

6. Riley Mahlman, OT, Wisconsin (West)

The 6-foot-8, 304-pound lineman looks the part. He has very good balance as a pass blocker. During 1-on-1 drills this past weekend, he did a nice job of clearing opposing defenders out of harm’s way. He also had some really nice run reps during individual drills. Mahlman was probably the most impressive blocker of the tackles in Frisco this past weekend.

7. Honorable mentioned: 

Syracuse P Jack Stonehouse (East),

Texas A&M DT Albert Regis (West),

North Carolina CB Marcus Allen (East),

LSU TE Bauer Sharp (West),

South Carolina OLB Bryan Thomas Jr. (East),

Duke OLB Wesley Williams (East),

Navy RB/WR Eli Heidenreich (East),

Florida State DL Darrell Jackson Jr. (East),

Clemson QB Cade Klubnik (East)

And the Panthers couldn’t wait one freaking year

Yes Payton is a dirt bag but he can coach

Here is a picture of the bottom line.  He admits pick 1 and 2 may not drop but odds are decent for picks 3 and 5 

In the brief video, gives stats, fit background on each 

13 hours ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

I hate it 

Lol

everyone is a critic lol

i just share information to spur discussion if it seems reasonable 

of course ‘reasonable’ is in the eyes of the reader 

45 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I agree, hence why I have repeatedly said we need to cut Hunt in the 2027 offseason. He isn't elite but he has the third highest RG contract. That's insane. Plus Moton is very close to coming off the books.

If we paid Linderbaum as the #1 overall center, he would still be significantly lower paid than Lewis, Hunt and Moton.

This is why I keep stressing the need to do something at center. It the biggest bang for the buck on any NFL OL.

Yes 

icky is on the books with zero certainty of return, Moton getting older with knee issues…draft  that versatile  OT in the first or second if one is there…rookie contract

These are recommendations   Some are stop gaps. Some potential long term. Panthers need both 
 

1. Chargers edge Odafe Oweh 

2  chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal 

3  cardinals LT Kelvin Beachum

           (1 year stop gap)

4 Ravens center tyler linderbuam 

      (My comment, if he is available

       Let Mayes walk) 

5. eagles Safety Blankenship