Coaching
In his first season as the Panthers’ head coach, Matt Rhule went 5-11 with improvement on both sides of the ball. His only experience in the NFL came in 2012 for the Giants as the assistant offensive line coach.
Over the previous seven seasons, Rhule worked as the head coach for Temple (28-23) and Baylor (19-20). He took over both programs at low points. In each season as a college coach, his team improved from the previous year. In 2019, Baylor finished 11-3 and 8-1 in conference play after going 1-11 in 2017.
Rhule has been coaching since 1998, with his best highlight coming as the AAC football champion in 2016.
Joe Brady returns for a second year as Carolina’s offensive coordinator. At age 31, Brady has two years of experience as an offensive assistant for the Saints (2017-2018) while holding the passing game coordinator and wide receiver coach positions in 2019 for LSU. His rise in the coaching ranks came from his development of Joe Burrow in 2019.
Carolina finished 21st in offensive yards and 24th in points scored (350) while losing their top running back for 13 games.
The defensive side of the ball remains in the hands of Phil Snow. His path to the NFL came paired with Matt Rhule over the past seven seasons. Snow has four years of experience in the NFL working for the Lions as a defensive assistant and linebackers coach. His early career entailed multiple seasons working on defense in the Pac-10 and Pac-12 while working at Arizona State, UCLA, California, and Washington.
Last season the Panthers improved to 18th in points allowed (402 – 68 fewer than 2019) while holding the same ranking in yards allowed.
Free Agency
The bridge over troubled quarterback waters led to another change in the offseason. Carolina acquired Sam Darnold from the Jets in early April for draft picks this year (sixth-round) and next season (second and fourth rounds).
The top losses on offense were RB Mike Davis and WR Curtis Samuel.
Davis handled himself well in relief of Christian McCaffrey last year, but He struggled to make big plays, and defenses appeared to catch up with him over the latter part of the season.
Carolina drafted Samuel in the second round in 2017. His play and production improved each season in the league, highlighted by the 24th wide receiver ranking (212.10 fantasy points) in PPR leagues last year. Samuel added value as well as a change of pace option out of the backfield.
The Panthers added WR David Moore and TE Dan Arnold for bench depth.
Moore flashed over the past three seasons in Seattle, but he failed to secure a starting job. Moore has 13 touchdowns despite only having 78 catches in his career. He showed big-play ability in 2018 and 2019 when he averaged 17.3 yards per catch.
Over the past four seasons, Arnold alternated homes between Arizona and New Orleans. He reached new heights in 2020 (31/438/4) with Kyler Murray throwing him the ball.
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On defense, Carolina signed DE Haason Reddick, LB Denzel Perryman, and CB A.J. Bouye.
Reddick comes off his best season in the NFL thanks to a switch back to a pass rusher on the defensive line. He has four years of experience while being drafted in the first round by the Cardinals in 2017.
Perryman worked over the bench over the past three seasons. He plays well in run support, but he’ll see minimal snaps on passing downs.
Bouye played well in coverage in 2016 and 2017 with the Texans and Jaguars, but he lost his way last year while battling a shoulder injury. The NFL also suspended him for six games (two left in 2021) for failing a drug test.
CB Rasul Douglas left town to sign with the Raiders. He brought risk/reward value in coverage. Douglas will give up some damage in touchdowns, and wide receivers challenged him over the long field.
Draft
CB Jaycee Horn
His game offers an edge in press coverage, with the wheels to make up for a missed step. In addition, Horn stays connected to receivers in their patterns. He lacks the fire to shine in run support, but Horn has the tools to reach a higher ceiling in this area. His most significant challenge comes from his desire to hold receivers. Carolina expects him to start in his rookie season.
WR Terrance Marshall
He projects to be a vertical threat early in his career while doing damage on comeback throws. Marshall offers size (6’2” and 205 lbs.) and speed (4.38 40-yard dash on his pro day). However, his release looks questionable and lacks tempo. To reach a high level, he needs to add more fight to his game off the snap and at the top of his routes.
T Brady Christensen
Christensen’s skill set should fit in well with what the Panthers want to do running the ball with Christian McCaffrey. He plays with power and strength while firing off the snaps. His range looks limited in pass protection, pushing him to the guard position in Carolina.
TE Tommy Tremble
Tremble earned his way into the NFL as a blocker, but his frame (6’3” and 245 lbs.) isn’t ideal for a lead role at tight end. He continues to improve, but his growth in the passing game at Notre Dame was restricted by a pair of talented players in front of him on the depth chart. Tremble ran a 4.59 40-yard dash on his pro day while also showing short-area quickness. His hands look to be in question when facing tight coverage.
RB Chuba Hubbard
He runs with rhythm and vision while willing to take what a defense gives him. Hubbard has a north/south feel, but he can win on the outside when given daylight. He dominated his sophomore season at Oklahoma State (328/2,094/21), helped by a heavy workload (27 touches per week). Hubbard wasn’t the same player in 2020 (133/625/5 over seven games).
DT Daviyon Nixon
Nixon darts off the line, leading to early wins and disruption. His range is wide for his position while also possessing some variation to his pass rush. His shortfall comes from stalemates or losses when tied up at the line of scrimmage by stronger offensive linemen. Nixon needs more upper body strength to reach a higher ceiling.
CB Keith Taylor
Taylor has yet to grow into his frame (6’2” and 185 lbs.), putting a damper on his ceiling. His vision and feel for play development aren’t at an NFL level. He moves better when attacking the line of scrimmage with the foundation to handle receivers in press coverage. His overall speed is a weak link over the long field. Taylor also lacks playmaking skills. For now, he only has value in tight coverage in the red zone.
G Deonte Brown
Brown started for three seasons at Alabama, one of the top college programs in the country. He is a beast of a man who will be a load to move by a straight-on defender. His range isn’t ideal while offering the power and quickness to open holes quickly in the run game.
WR Shi Smith
Smith showed improvement in his route running last year. His future lies in the slot while also having the speed to beat a defender deep. He makes plays in the open field with the willingness to fight for his space in tight quarters after facing bump and run coverage. Smith needs to be more physical on his release and out of his breaks to create a larger passing window.
LS Thomas Fletcher
Fletcher will compete for the long-snapping job on field goals and punts for the Panthers.
DT Phil Hoskins
Hoskins earns his success with quickness off the line, leading to pressure on the quarterback and disruption in the run game. With the development of his hands and more strength, he’ll become more dangerous when challenged by power.
