Breaking Down the Panthers' New-Look Offense

A lot of change has taken place in Carolina, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Aside from the new staff, the Panthers will have two new quarterbacks, a new RB1, two new receivers, and a new tight end but won't have DJ Moore.

What will the offense look like from a depth standpoint? Here's how I see it as of today.

Quarterback: C.J. Stroud/Bryce Young, Andy Dalton

Whoever the Panthers choose at No. 1 is going to have as good of a set-up as a rookie could possibly ask for. And to be honest, it's a much better situation than what most No. 1 picks walk into. Not only does he have a veteran to learn from in Andy Dalton, but he has a seasoned coaching staff, a top-10 offensive line, and some weapons to work with in both the backfield and at receiver. This doesn't mean it will be a seamless transition, but it should remove a lot of issues that rookie quarterbacks have.

Running Back: Miles Sanders, Chuba Hubbard, Raheem Blackshear

I'm a little surprised the Panthers didn't bring back D'Onta Foreman, but I get it. Foreman wants to be the No. 1 guy and he's earned that right. Sanders gives them more of a home run threat out of the backfield, who can also make plays in the passing game. I'm interested to see how involved Chuba will be and if his role will decrease at all.

WR (X): Terrace Marshall Jr., Preston Williams

This feels like a make-or-break year for TMJ. He'll still have one more year on his contract after this season, but if he fails to take that next step, it could prevent him from earning a second contract in Carolina.

WR (Z): DJ Chark, Laviska Shenault

Chark will be the guy here at the Z as long as he stays healthy. He's got terrific speed which allows him to get vertical and create separation. He averaged 16.7 yards per reception in 11 games with the Lions in 2022. Shenault will likely back him up but will continue to move around as the most flexible receiver currently on the roster.

WR (SL): Adam Thielen, Shi Smith

I have a feelin' that Thielen won't be coming off the field all that much. There's nothing better for a rookie to have than to have someone who can carve up the middle of the field and that's what Thielen has done his entire career.

Tight End: Hayden Hurst, Ian Thomas, Tommy Tremble, Stephen Sullivan

Finally, the Panthers have a receiving threat at tight end in Hayden Hurst. On average, Hurst will produce 35.4 receptions, 343 yards, and 2.8 touchdowns per season. Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble will both see significant playing time but will be primarily used as blockers.

Left Tackle: Ikem Ekwonu, Brady Christensen

Ekwonu had a slow start to his rookie year, but considering the opponents he had to line up against, you can't really blame him. He got better and better as the season went on, living up to the hype of a top-10 pick.

Left Guard: Brady Christensen, Cade Mays, Deonte Brown

Christensen was just okay in his first full season playing guard. He had played tackle his entire life, so moving inside was a bit of an adjustment. Now with a year under his belt, I expect we'll see more consistent play as he plays with more confidence.

Center: Bradley Bozeman, Sam Tecklenburg, Cade Mays

Re-signing Bozeman to a multi-year deal was as big of an offseason move as any other addition the team made in free agency. He set the tone up front and took control of that group from the very moment he was inserted into the starting lineup.

Right Guard: Austin Corbett, Justin McCray

With Corbett recovering from a torn ACL in the regular season finale, the Panthers brought in a veteran backup in Justin McCray, who happens to have a history with o-line coach James Campen. If Corbett is unable to go at the start of the season, McCray will slide right in.

Right Tackle: Taylor Moton, Larnel Coleman

Taylor Moton is the guy, but Carolina could stand to add another tackle in the draft, preferably one that can play either tackle spot and serve as a "swing" tackle.

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