Carolina Panthers stock up, stock down

A new era is underway in Carolina, which is bad news for two offensive players chosen by the last regime. The defense, meanwhile, features two players whose stocks are rising.

Stock up

Brian Burns, defensive end: Burns is entering the final year of his rookie contract, but he could soon agree to a long-term extension with Carolina. The 33rd Team's Ari Meirov wrote Burns is likely to make nearly as much as former No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett ($25M per year), Cleveland's defensive end.

Per Meirov, Carolina rebuffed Chicago's request that Burns be added to the teams' trade that sent the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Panthers. The organization, Meirov wrote, "has big plans for [Burns] as it transitions from a 4-3 base defense to a 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero."

Burns had a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2022 and has 38 sacks in his first four NFL seasons.

Jammie Robinson, safety: A fifth-round pick (145th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft, Robinson has stood out in the early days of organized team activities. He played well "during the two rookie minicamp workouts that the media was present for earlier this month," noted Charlotte Observer's Mike Kaye, who spotlighted the team's safeties as the strongest position group.

Over four seasons at South Carolina and Florida State, Robinson had seven interceptions and 16 pass deflections. He joins a position group that also features Vonn Bell, Jeremy Chinn, Eric Rowe and Xavier Woods. Per Kaye, Robinson will play in certain formations as an extra defensive back.

Stock down

Chuba Hubbard, running back: Hubbard appeared in line for an increased workload once D'Onta Foreman left for Chicago in free agency. However, Carolina signed Miles Sanders to a four-year, $25.4 million contract, pushing Hubbard back down the depth chart. 

Despite being in the rare class of running backs to have multiple 2,000-yard rushing seasons in college, Hubbard hasn't caught on in Carolina despite showing promise. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, he was the most efficient running back in the league last year. Even with the potential he's shown, Hubbard probably must go elsewhere to land a starting role.

Terrace Marshall Jr., wide receiver: After finishing second on the team with 490 receiving yards in 2022, it doesn't look like there will be enough touches to go around to keep Marshall happy in 2023. The front office signed wideouts D.J. Chark and Adam Thielen in free agency and drafted Jonathan Mingo in the second round. 

Like Hubbard, Marshall is a relic of a past era of Panthers football as he was drafted under head coach Matt Rhule, who was fired last year. The team's offseason moves at wide receiver have made Marshall expendable.