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Carolina Panthers, Cam Newton, Empty Seats, Social Media, and Branding
By
Jeremy Igo,
in Carolina Panthers
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By raleigh-panther · Posted
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. -
Making the playoffs as quickly as he did after what he inherited was impressive. He inherited the worst team in the league with a depleted roster, missing draft picks, and a QB who just had a historically bad rookie season. I mean it's hard to get much worse. I wish he would hire someone to call plays because I think that's his weakness, but maybe he can get better there as he gets experience. -
Sheesh. If Bryce had won the Super Bowl, y'all woulda been like "He didn't win by enough. He missed that pass in the third quarter." fug it. We went to the playoffs, no matter how we got there and played a helluva game where we came up just a bit short of advancing. It's been a long time since we even made it to the post season for anything. But hey, keep punching yourself in the nuts because you think that's what you need to do.
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