Carolina Panthers 2026 Offseason Outlook

Despite getting the Carolina Panthers to the postseason for the first time in eight years, head coach Dave Canales will have no trouble showing his team there is plenty of room for improvement. Because even though the Panthers can call themselves NFC South champions for the first time in 10 years, they still have a streak of eight straight losing seasons.

Still, while they needed outside help to back into the playoffs in 2025, it was a step in the right direction. The jury may still be out on whether Bryce Young is the long-term answer at quarterback, but the first overall pick in the 2023 draft had his best season yet and showed some clutch ability.

2025 recap

After a Week 16 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Panthers were 8-7 and controlled their destiny to win the division. Back-to-back losses, however, dropped them to an 8-9 finish. Aside from a three-game winning streak in Weeks 5-7 against the Dolphins, Cowboys and Jets, Carolina never won two games in a row.

Young didn’t exactly light up the sky, but he did set career highs in completion percentage (63.6%), yards (3,011), touchdown passes (23) and passer rating (87.8). More importantly, he had a knack for the dramatic, throwing for 448 yards and three TDs in a Week 11 overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons, and then out-dueling MVP Matthew Stafford in a Week 13 comeback win over the Los Angeles Rams. Young nearly duplicated that feat in a wild-card rematch against the Rams — throwing a go-ahead TD with just over two minutes left, only to watch Stafford end Carolina’s season with a last-minute TD pass of his own.

Young developed a good rapport with wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who caught 70 passes for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns on his way to earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

The Panthers also featured several young additions on defense, though the production was mixed. Carolina was middle of the pack in terms of yards and points allowed, and it was near the bottom of the league in sacks.

Key free agents

C Cade Mays
DL D.J. Wonnum
T Yosh Nijman
RB Rico Dowdle
LB Isaiah Simmons
LB Krys Barnes
WR Jalen Coker

Panthers salary cap space

$14,437,004

2026 draft needs

Despite addressing the pass rush in last year’s draft, more attention needs to be placed on that area. In his latest mock draft, Luke Easterling has Carolina taking Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor with the 19th overall pick. If the Panthers don’t re-sign free-agent running back Roci Dowdle, then that might be a position of interest. Offensive and defensive line are also areas of need.

2026 opponents

Home:Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Seattle

Away:Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Green Bay, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh