PFF's Highest & Lowest Graded Players on the Panthers' Roster

When you're 0-6, it's unlikely that you have many bright spots on your roster. The Carolina Panthers have not played well at all in all three phases of the game and are searching for answers across the board.

Who has played the best through the first six games of the season? Below are the top-five rated players on each side of the ball, graded by Pro Football Focus.

FIVE HIGHEST-RATED OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

WR Adam Thielen - 84.3

RB Chuba Hubbard - 71.9

WR Laviska Shenault - 67.9

RT Taylor Moton - 63.8

LT Ikem Ekwonu - 59.8

My analysis: Look, when Ikem Ekwonu is your fifth-highest-rated player, it's not good news. That's no knock on his talent and potential which is through the roof. It's more about how he's performed to this point. Number three on the list, Laviska Shenault Jr., has only appeared in 20% of all offensive snaps and is now sidelined with an injury. I will say, though, Thielen has been lights out. He's played well above expectations and the same can be said for Chuba Hubbard.

FIVE HIGHEST-RATED DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

S Xavier Woods - 83.7

DT Derrick Brown - 72.6

OLB Brian Burns - 71.6

LB Frankie Luvu - 67.5

CB Troy Hill - 64.8

My analysis: Woods was playing well before his hamstring injury and his absence has proven to be a big hit to what was already a thin secondary unit. Both Burns and Brown have played well in spurts but certainly not as consistent as Ejiro Evero would like.

What about the lowest-rated players on both sides of the ball?

FIVE LOWEST-RATED DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

RB Miles Sanders - 55.5

RG Calvin Throckmorton - 54.2

QB Bryce Young - 51.0

TE Hayden Hurst - 47.6

LG Chandler Zavala - 27.7

My analysis: Sanders has been a huge disappointment. He's not running with the same burst and confidence that Hubbard has. Hurst has been essentially non-existent which is odd considering a tight end is a rookie quarterback's best friend. It's hard to put much stock into Bryce Young's grade because of the lack of help around him. He's steadily improved each week and should continue to look more comfortable as the season goes on. And Poor Zavala. The kid missed a lot of time this offseason due to injury and then because of injuries to other linemen, he was thrust into action from the start.

FIVE LOWEST-RATED DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

DT Shy Tuttle - 58.2

S Jeremy Chinn - 57.2

CB Donte Jackson - 50.8

LB Kamu Grugier-Hill - 48.2

CB CJ Henderson - 44.1

My analysis: I'll admit, I thought Tuttle would have a bigger impact on Carolina's defense than he's currently having. The same goes for Jeremy Chinn. You know, the guy the staff was all giddy about in the offseason but has played in a little over half of the defensive snaps. You have to wonder if not playing every down has impacted Chinn's effectiveness.

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