Carolina Panthers News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Power Rankings

Doormats To Darlings: What's In Store For The 2025 Panthers?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By John Laghezza | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 3:00 PM ET

Very few teams are expected to add two or more wins to last season's total, and yet the Panthers find themselves on that short list — but is it warranted?

Travel back in time just twelve months and the idea of even considering the Panthers to win seven games in 2025 would sound ludicrous. The first question with good reason would most certainly be "well, who's the quarterback?" Former first overall pick Bryce Young played so poorly in his initial NFL campaign (-0.21 EPA/dropback, 59.8% completion rate, 5.5 yards per attempt, 73.7 passer rating), I'll admit I was one among many analysts preparing the shovels to bury the first-year QB's career.

Not so fast, my fine feathered friend...

2024 served as a testament to the popular adages that prospect growth isn't linear and yes, succeeding in the NFL is incredibly hard. Last season began for Bryce Young the same way 2023 ended and by Week 3, the "Red Rocket" Andy Dalton was parked under center. I couldn't tell you exactly what happened on the sidelines but the lightbulb went off for the second-year shot-caller — and the post-bye stats started to look like perhaps the Panthers had their long-term answer at QB right under their nose (+0.13 EPA/dropback, 61.5% completion rate, 6.9 yards per attempt).

Need more evidence of Young's growth? It doesn't take a senior technical analyst at JP Morgan to tell you this chart below is extremely encouraging.

As much as I'm touting the offensive growth from the black cats, don't lose the forest for the trees — because the defense stunk beyond comprehension. I've been doing this style of analysis for a long time, and can't remember a single team finishing dead last in this many pertinent stats...

Points Allowed Per Game: 31.4
Defensive EPA Per Play: -0.12
Yards Allowed Per Game: 404.5
Yards Allowed Per Play: 6.0
Average Drive Distance: 36.9
Defensive EPA Per Rush: -0.10
Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 179.8
Yards Before Contact Per Rush: 2.02
Opposer Passer Rating Allowed: 105.4
Passing TD Allowed: 35
Pressure Rate: 25.1%
Defensive Splash Plays: 300

Sorry to drone on with a laundry list of statistics, but it's important to highlight the systemic rot throughout Carolina's defensive play. We're not talking about struggles in a single phase, curable with a player acquisition or two. And it's like not the Panthers have signed a single free agent on defense either. Instead, they'll be relying on second and third round DEs Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen to turn this cruise ship around more quickly than I think is feasible.

LAGHEZZA'S LEAN:

If you think the Panthers are set to improve, I won't push back too hard. However, there are other ways to back a team who projects this terribly on the defensive side of the ball — namely by betting their in-season weekly team totals.

I'm not touching this ONE but am expecting the CAROLINA PANTHERS UNDER 6.5 WINS (+100) on MGM to hit.

Thanks so much reading, it's been so exciting getting to interact with all my new friends in the Athlon universe. If you're interested in upping your analytical game, come find out what all the hub-bub's about regarding my best-selling MLB/NFL Substack page. Don't be shy — reach out to me via DM anytime on X @JohnLaghezza and I'll hook you up with a free trial.

How much of your time saved is worth two bucks a week?

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: