The Carolina Panthers enter the 2025 season with cautious optimism following a strong finish to their 5-12 2024 campaign and a productive offseason focused on bolstering their defense and giving more support to quarterback Bryce Young.
For the Panthers to live up to their full potential, Young will need to carry his momentum from the end of the 2024 season into 2025. Carolina also ranked last in the NFL in points and yards allowed last season, so the Panthers’ new defensive additions through free agency and the draft will have to step up and make an immediate impact.
Carolina Panthers Season Preview
Biggest Strength: Offensive Line
Carolina spent significant resources improving its offensive line last season, particularly on the interior with the additions of guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt. The result was a unit that ranked seventh in the NFL in PFF grade last season and gave Young a chance to succeed from the pocket.
All of the key pieces are back, so this offensive line could improve even further with another year together. They must be able to duplicate their success from a year ago at the very least for the Panthers to have a successful season.
Biggest Weakness: Defensive Front
Carolina’s front seven was its biggest weakness last season and it will be under the microscope heading into 2025. The defensive line should take a step forward with the additions of several veterans and rookies Cam’Ron Jackson, Nic Scourton, and Princely Umanmielen. The return of Derrick Brown, who is an elite defensive tackle, could provide a huge boost as well. Linebacker remains the most pressing concern with Christian Rozeboom and rookie Trevin Wallace currently projected as the starters.
Quarterback Spotlight: Bryce Young
Young struggled in his first two games last season before being benched in favor of Andy Dalton. He would reenter the starting lineup when Dalton was injured and caught fire down the stretch.
From Week 9 through Week 18, Young ranked sixth in the NFL with an 86.1 passing grade and second with 24 big-time throws. He showed a newfound willingness to push the ball downfield and into tight windows, a trait that should serve him well as his receiving corps continues to improve. With a good offensive line and weapons all around him, it’s time to see just how good Young can be.
Offensive Player Spotlight: OT Taylor Moton
Taylor Moton has been a constant at right tackle for Carolina over the past seven years and played some of his best football in 2024. His 77.7 PFF grade was his highest since 2020, and he allowed just one sack for the third time in his past four seasons.
Since 2018, Moton has earned an outstanding 84.9 pass-blocking grade and has allowed a hit or sack on just 0.6% of his pass-blocking snaps. Moton being on the field is crucial to Young and the Panthers’ success.
Defensive Player Spotlight: DL Derrick Brown
Aside from Young, Brown is arguably the most important player for Carolina this season. After ranking second in the NFL in run-defense grade in 2023, Brown suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 of 2024. As a result, the Panthers’ run defense was historically bad. His return to full strength is as crucial to Carolina’s defensive success as any of the offseason acquisitions. If Brown is right, he can make this Panthers defense respectable right away.
Rookie to Watch: WR Tetairoa McMillan
Tetairoa McMillan was arguably the best wide receiver prospect in this year’s class, and he should help Young continue to push the ball downfield. Over the past two seasons in college, McMillan’s 98.6 receiving grade on throws of 10-plus yards led all FBS wideouts. His 6-foot-5 frame and contested-catch ability should add a new dimension to Carolina’s passing game.
McMillan is a prototypical X receiver. His 89.5 receiving grade is the fifth-best among Power Five receivers 6-foot-2 or taller in the past decade. The only receiver with more yards during that span is CeeDee Lamb.
Selected eighth overall by the Panthers, McMillan could emerge as their top target as a rookie. He joins Dave Canales’ offense, where the X receiver has a history of producing double-digit touchdowns, including Mike Evans in Canales’ lone season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and D.K. Metcalf twice with the Seattle Seahawks.
Final Thoughts
The Panthers are tied for the fifth-easiest schedule in the league based on the 2024 winning percentage of their opponents. With talented players like Chuba Hubbard, Young, McMillan, Brown, and Jaycee Horn, the potential to overachieve is certainly there.
The 2025 season presents a crucial opportunity for the Panthers to turn the corner. Young’s development and improvement in the front seven are the two most important factors for Carolina’s success this season. If they both materialize, the Panthers could become a sneaky contender in the NFC South.
Main Image: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
