Carolina Panthers' Final 53-Man Roster Projection Following Win Over Texans

The Carolina Panthers wrapped up their preseason last night against the Houston Texans. Between now and Sunday evening, they will have to trim the roster down to 53 players. It's a difficult endeavor with a lot of deserving players.

Out of those deserving players, who is actually going to make the team? It's anyone's guess, because the Panthers have kept a lot close to the chest. Here is our best projection, though, after four preseason games.

Panthers' 53-man roster projection after preseason

Offense

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (15) runs with the ball | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Here's the offensive projection following the final preseason game:

QB
Bryce Young
Kenny Pickett
Haynes King
RB
Chuba Hubbard
Jonathon Brooks
Trevor Etienne
AJ Dillon
WR
Tetairoa McMillan
Jalen Coker
Xavier Legette
Jimmy Horn Jr.
Ja'seem Reed
Brycen Tremayne
TE
Tommy Tremble
Mitchell Evans
Feleipe Franks
OT
Monroe Freeling
Rasheed Walker
Jake Curhan
Albert Reese IV
IOL
Sam Hecht
Luke Fortner
Robert Hunt
Damien Lewis
Chandler Zavala
Brady Christensen

As much as it hurts, it's hard to project the Panthers using a roster spot on Darren Waller, who hasn't played. The Panthers have options to keep him on the practice squad temporarily, which was likely their plan all along.

Ja'seem Reed and John Metchie are neck and neck for a final WR spot, but we suspect Reed has the slight edge now. Feleipe Franks has been great on special teams, which takes a spot from Waller and Ja'Tavion Sanders (for now).

Defense

Here's the projection for the defense:

Carolina Panthers linebacker Trevis Gipson (52) warms up before a preseason game | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

IDL
Derrick Brown
Bobby Brown III
Aaron Hall
Lee Hunter
Cam Jackson
EDGE
Pat Jones II
Princely Umanmielen
Jaelan Phillips
Cam Gill
Trevis Gipson
ILB
Devin Lloyd
Trevin Wallace
Claudin Cherilus
Jackson Kuwatch
CB
Jaycee Horn
Mike Jackson
Will Lee III
Chau Smith-Wade
Akayleb Evans
S
Tre'von Moehrig
Zakee Wheatley
Nick Scott
Isaiah Simmons
Lathan Ransom

The defense is a little more straightforward, though there are battles going on. Aaron Hall and Elijah Garcia (advantage Hall) are duking it out up front, with Jared Harrison-Hunte in the mix. Do the Panthers go with Akayleb Evans or Corey Thornton as the last cornerback? We lean Evans for his special teams contributions.

Special teams

There is no competition at kicker, where Ryan Fitzgerald has the job, punter, where Sam Martin has it locked, and long-snapper, where JJ Jansen might as well have that position locked up for eternity.

To keep up with cuts as they happen, be sure to check out our tracker.

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