Brian Answers: Answering more follow up questions on the 2025 NFL Draft and the Panthers moves since

Another edition of part two if this week’s Panthers fan mailbag

Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! The Panthers did some stuff this week, releasing several players, including OLB Jadeveon Clowney, as we push on to rookie mini camp in the very near future. The off-season is very much still in swing, and your questions continue to brew as we navigate it. So, let’s dive right into some of your questions from this week’s mailbag!

GooseCreek: There are several sources to see a listing of UDFAs for each team but is there a source to get a definitive listing on invitees for a team’s Rookie Mini-Camp?

Not that I know of. I think the best source you can find is scouring places like Twitter/X to see when somebody gets randomly announced as an invitee to rookie mini-camp. Teams don’t really need to disclose tryout invites since there’s no real contract terms until they actually sign. If someone else has any other info feel free to share down below, but even as recently as Thursday we didn’t get anything other than that there are 14 tryout players coming to camp.

KeepPounding88: Will Canales learn from his mistake last year and give the starters more reps in the preseason?

My broad answer is yes, but it depends on what starters you’re talking about. I think the starting offensive line will still be kept on a very light snap count, same with a guy like Chuba Hubbard on offense. On defense, I can’t see them giving too many snaps to Derrick Brown (if he’s even healthy by then), Jaycee Horn, or Josey Jewell. But Bryce Young should probably see more snaps, and there’s a lot of younger guys set to see significant snap counts at other positions. I think we’ll see more of them.

@WTMealey: Ok football question

Regular season game decent weather do you ever leave early and what are the parameters for that decision?

I have a friend who ALWAYS leaves early to beat traffic and I don’t understand why he goes at all.

For the Panthers home games specifically, I would never leave early unless the game is WELL out of reach. However, at other stadiums (MetLife Stadium being one out of my experiences), leaving early does make sense. That place was a nightmare to get out of in 2008 and I imagine it only has gotten worse since then.

storybook: Which 2nd-year player do you think will be most important for the Panthers in 2025?

I’ll give you my “safe” answer and my “let’s have some fun” answer, in that order:

• LB Trevin Wallace: no matter how you feel about his pre-draft profile and rookie season, it appears he has the inside track to starting opposite the earlier mentioned Jewell at inside linebacker. I think Christian Rozeboom will be used to spell him in run-heavy situations, but overall Wallace seems like he’s going to see a significant role in the Panthers defense. Whether or not he takes a major step forward could be a massive storyline for this defense.
• S Demani Richardson: I know the Panthers just released Jadeveon Clowney literally the day before this piece airs, which opened up some cap space for the Panthers to go spending in post-draft free agency, but right now Richardson is slated to have a role with the starters too. If the Panthers do nothing, he will likely be sharing snaps with rookie Lathan Ransom opposite Trevon Moehrig. But even if they do sign someone, Richardson does factor into the top 4 of the rotation. And currently, he’s the only safety on the roster who is familiar with the scheme. He might still play more than people think no matter what the Panthers do with the recently freedom up money.

RebuildingSince95: Has David Tepper ever made a comment regarding changing the field back to grass? Do you think he will ever consider it?

Aside from articles from 2022 and the most recent NFLPA survey indicating Panthers players would prefer grass, there’s really nothing indicating this change is coming any time soon. Maybe that changes if the Panthers suddenly become contenders again, but I doubt it. Unfortunately, the stadium houses a lot more events than just Panthers games, and Tepper is a business man.

Revshawn: Who would win in a fight? The 2015 Super Bowl Carolina Panthers roster or a silverback gorilla?

That Panthers defensive line might give the gorilla a run for its money. I guess it depends on whether the battleground is Panthers friendly, or a very poorly taken care of Levi’s stadium in early February.

Diesel009: I don’t post as often but is anyone else feeling like Mitchell Evans could be sneaky good for us? I’m intrigued to see his production with a starting caliber NFL QB.

I don’t want to get too hyped yet about Evans until we see some preseason snaps, but he could very easily be the Panthers Ian Thomas replacement for this offense, and that would be a good thing on his 5th round pick rookie contract.

And finally, some comment highlights:

Temujin07: Cowboys had to pivot because the Panthers took T-Mac. Just a reminder Dan traded Mingo to the Cowboys for a 4th lol

This was very easily one of Dan Morgan’s best trades. Obviously, trading Jonathan Mingo, a highly drafted second round pick, for a fourth round pick less than two seasons later is a net loss, but there are many scenarios where teams get nothing. And this trade by the Cowboys this week made it look even better.

And, in a response to this post by Temujin07 about the Panthers potential interest in OT Armand Membou:

ericbuck: They called me a mad man. Brian, I hope you are thankful this didn’t happen because I would have been be so insufferable haha

Shut up, Meg.

Join us next week for another edition of the Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! KEEP POUNDING!