Mike Kaye’s take: 2026 NFL free agency predictions

[TheSpecialJuan]

G/C Austin Corbett: Corbett has had a whirlwind tenure in Carolina over the past four years, but this season was probably the most complicated stretch. He started the year as the top center before sustaining a knee injury that cost him four games on injured reserve. When he returned from the injury, he was supplanted by Cade Mays. However, Corbett was used as a utility fill-in starter at left guard, center and right guard for the remainder of the season. He was also named the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year winner this year, so he’s clearly valued internally by some pretty important decision-makers. 2026 prediction: Tests market but returns on a 1-year deal if he can’t find work elsewhere

T/G Brady Christensen: Christensen continued his work as the ultimate utility blocker in 2025. However, his season was cut short when he sustained an Achilles injury in Week 8. Christensen is valuable to the Panthers because he can play all five spots and knows the blocking scheme as well as anyone. Given his injury setback, he’s likely to be a cheap option for returning depth. 2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year deal

RB Rico Dowdle: Dowdle’s season got off to a slow start. However, Chuba Hubbard’s calf injury in the second quarter of the season opened things up for Dowdle to emerge. After back-to-back breakout games against the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys, Dowdle supplanted Hubbard as the primary runner in the backfield. Coming off a career year, look for Dowdle to cash in on his productive season. It’ll be hard for the Panthers to pony up the dough with financial and draft-pick investments in Hubbard, Jonathan Brooks and Trevor Etienne. 2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere for a bigger pay day and better role

Long snapper J.J. Jansen: Jansen is nearing the end of his career, but he rarely makes mistakes and is a better option than shuffling through undrafted rookies to find his replacement. If Philip Rivers can get a deal to play quarterback at age 44, Jansen should be fine signing another contract to snap footballs between his legs at age 40. 2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year deal

P Sam Martin: Martin proved to be a shrewd addition for the Panthers in 2025. He was consistently good at flipping the field and showed no signs of slowing down. Again, why take a chance on a rookie struggling when you’re trying to be a longterm contending team? 2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year deal

C Cade Mays: Mays is an interesting case. This same staff cut him to make room for a waiver wire claim before the start of the 2024 season. He was then re-signed off the New York Giants’ practice squad when injuries occurred, and he played quite well as a starting center. He subsequently re-signed with the team this past offseason but lost the center competition to Corbett, whom Mays eventually replaced for the majority of the season. Mays should test his options on the open market, but he isn’t a lock for a huge contract given his inconsistencies on the Panthers’ depth chart over the past four years. The Panthers might want to draft a starting center with all the money they have tied up in the offensive line in 2026 ($86.6 million). 2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere for a long-term deal

WR David Moore: Moore spent most of the season on injured reserve with an elbow injury. He’s been a notable veteran leader in a young wide-receiver room, and Panthers coach Dave Canales loves him. He told The Processing Blue podcast in July that he didn’t want to play for anyone besides Canales at this point in his career. Moore is experienced, cheap and knows the offense, so he’s likely back on a short-term pact. 2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year minimum deal to compete in training camp

LB Christian Rozeboom: Rozeboom had a rough start to the season. He was originally signed as a depth linebacker but was forced into the starting lineup following the abrupt departure of Josey Jewell before training camp. He was asked to be the signal-caller, and that responsibility seemed to hinder his ability to read and react. Once that responsibility was given to Trevin Wallace in Week 5, Rozeboom excelled. Still, it’s more than likely the team looks to upgrade the position this offseason. 2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere

S Nick Scott: Scott was a 17-game starter in 2025. While he wasn’t necessarily a star on defense, he also wasn’t a consistent liability either. Scott is a notable specialteams contributor, and he’s shown he can be relied on with heavy defensive snaps. The Panthers will probably look to upgrade over him at starting safety, but the Ejiro Evero favorite still makes sense as a veteran depth presence if the coordinator sticks around. 2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year deal.

OLB D.J. Wonnum: Wonnum started 15 games in his second season with the Panthers. He produced four sacks in eight games in 2024, but he was held without a sack until Week 15 this season (finishing with three), despite a huge uptick in playing time in 2025. The Panthers certainly need to get better production at outside linebacker, and Wonnum will probably need to find a new home this offseason. 2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere

LB Krys Barnes: After spending the first half of the season on the practice squad, Barnes became a fixture of the linebacker depth chart. He was mostly used on special teams, beyond a pair of spot starts due to injuries. Barnes was a healthy scratch for the playoff loss. 2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere

S D’Anthony Bell: The Panthers claimed Bell off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks during the final week of the season. He will become a free agent in March without much of a foundation in Carolina. 2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere

T/G Jake Curhan: Curhan was thrust into the lineup in two of the biggest wins of the season. He was a positive fill-in during the upset win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, and he performed admirably as the starting right guard in the 31- 28 home win against the Los Angeles Rams. He arrived in Week 3 off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, and he should be a cheap depth option on the open market. 2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year minimum deal

CB Akayleb Evans: Evans was a season-long contributor on special teams as one of the team’s primary gunners on punt coverage. He will probably look for a better opportunity for playing time elsewhere. 2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere

OLB Trevis Gipson: Gipson was one of a handful of players poached from another team’s practice squad this season. He played quite a bit during the second half of the season, but he probably won’t be in the team’s long-term plans. 2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere

CB Damarri Mathis: The Panthers claimed Mathis off waivers from the Denver Broncos following the cut-down deadline. He tore his ACL during his first week with the team and never appeared in a game after going on season-ending injured reserve. If Evero remains in Carolina, Mathis could make sense as training camp depth on a proveit deal. 2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year minimum deal

OT Yosh Nijman: Nijman has served as the Panthers’ swing tackle for the bulk of his two years in Carolina. He’s proven to be a much better right tackle than left tackle when called upon to start. Starting left tackle Ickey Ekwonu injured his knee against the Rams, and Canales said he expects the ailment to be significant in nature. 2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year deal based on Ekwonu’s availability with knee injury

CB Robert Rochell: Like Gipson and Curhan, Rochell was signed off another practice squad to fill in as emergency depth. He played on special teams when active. 2026 prediction: Heads elsewhere

S Isaiah Simmons: The former Clemson standout signed with the practice squad in December and immediately received playing time on special teams. He was eventually promoted to the 53-man roster and played in the final five games of the regular season. Simmons will probably be back as a safety and special-teams contributor this summer. 2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year deal

(RFA) ILB Claudin Cherelus: A favorite of the coaching staff and front office, Cherelus has developed into a quality backup linebacker during his three years in Carolina. He is a notable special-teams contributor, and the team seems to be encouraged by his defensive upside. He started four games at linebacker during the second half of the season. Calf and ankle injuries unfortunately curbed a few of his opportunities down the stretch. Still, he started in the Panthers’ first playoff game since 2017. 2026 prediction: Re-signs to 1-year deal without receiving a tender

(RFA) OLB Thomas Incoom: Like Cherelus, Incoom is a staff and locker room favorite. He was Carolina’s best special-teams coverage player throughout the season, and he flashed as a pass rusher during training camp. He isn’t going anywhere. 2026 prediction: Re-signs to 1-year deal without receiving a tender

(RFA) TE James Mitchell: Mitchell earned a job out of training camp with a strong summer. But with three guys ahead of him on the depth chart, he only played in a handful of games. 2026 prediction: Won’t receive a tender and will look for a better opportunity elsewhere

(RFA) DE LaBryan Ray: Ray has played in more games for Evero over the past three years than any other defender in Carolina, including Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn. If he comes back, which seems likely, it won’t be on a pricey restricted tender. 2026 prediction: Re-signs to 1-year deal without receiving a tender

(EFA) WR Jalen Coker: The Panthers and Coker should consider reaching a two-year deal this offseason. With Coker currently set to become a restricted free agent next year, it would make sense for both parties to avoid a potentially awkward negotiation in 2027. If Carolina is thinking about the big picture, giving Coker the extra year, perhaps valued as a first- or second-round tender, is just getting ahead of a formality. He’s been a strong passing option for Bryce Young in each of the past two seasons. Coker is officially the team’s No. 2 wideout heading into the 2026 offseason after his phenomenal performance against the Rams. 2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 2-year deal to avoid restricted free agency next offseason

(EFA) WR Brycen Tremayne: Tremayne made the roster after a surprising first summer in Charlotte. He went on to become a top-tier special-teams contributor throughout the season. He also stepped up in several games as a receiver; especially as the offense tried to figure itself out in the first half of the season. 2026 prediction: Re-signs on a 1-year-deal

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

[DaveThePanther2008]

IMO this is spot on. I don't see any player that we let walk that will make us worse if we let him go. 

[Htarnation4.0]

I'd really like to keep Mayes. We drafted and developed him. 

[HPPantherzfan]

Can’t let Mayes walk, that would be a mistake 

[Mistuh Jones]

I wouldn't want Mayes out either BUT if the rumblings about Tyler Linderbaum are true..............

[TheSpecialJuan]

The offensive line is already expensive, with Ikey, Lewis, Hunt, and Moton all on sizable contracts next season. Re-signing Corbett to a one-year deal and drafting a center could be a more cost-effective approach

[HPPantherzfan]

16 minutes ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

The offensive line is already expensive, with Ikey, Lewis, Hunt, and Moton all on sizable contracts next season. Re-signing Corbett to a one-year deal and drafting a center could be a more cost-effective approach

That may be true but we finally have an oline and given that we just picked up BY 5 year and Ickey is out, last thing we need to do is rebuild the oline.  Mayes is versatile and plug and play, we don’t miss a beat with him on the line, short arms and all

[PleaseCutStewart]

Tough to let Mays walk, especially if we don't resign Corbett. Tough to just throw a day 3 C out there week 1 and expect our oline to not fall apart...

Resign:

1 year deals: Christensen, JJ, Martin, Evans, Scott, Curhan, Yosh, Simmons, Cherelus, Incoom. JJ, Martin, Evans, Simmons, and Incoom for special teams purposes.

2 year deal for Mays - Doubt Mays takes a 1 year deal. I definitely see a few teams being interested in him.

2 year deal for Tremayne - good #4 receiver (should be #3 ahead of XL imo)

2 year deal for Coker

 

[Butterflyj30]

I think we have to keep Mays he and Bryce work well together 

 

I like Brady, JJ, Sam, Mays, Christian, DJ, Yosh, Isiah, Jake, Claudin, Incoom, Brycen and Most Definitely Coker

[kungfoodude]

1 hour ago, Htarnation4.0 said:

I'd really like to keep Mayes. We drafted and developed him. 

Depends on price. He is a bottom third to quarter starter but he is a very valuable backup. 

If we can get him on a cheaper, backup deal I would love to keep him. If it comes to paying him starting NFL C money, he is 100% not worth that.