Part two of this week’s edition of YOUR Panthers fan mailbag!
Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! It’s roster projection season, so I asked you to hit me with all your questions in that regard. And you didn’t disappoint! So, let’s dive right in to my answers to your fan questions!
Shifty Fish: Who do you want/think deserves to make the team that isn’t gonna make the cut?
Probably gonna be one of these receivers unfortunately, unless they keep 6 AND cut Moore.
Probably Hunter Renfrow.
ducks
Just kidding. I think one of the LBs like Bam Martin-Scott or Jacoby Windmon will lose their roster spot to a guy like Jon Rhattigan, because special teams are important. They’ll probably hit the practice squad after waivers clear, but that position always ends up with backups with proven special teams ability, so one of the younger guys with “promise” will likely not make the 53 man roster over it. I also think Nick Scott will make the roster at safety over another younger guy for the same reason.
@WTMealey: How have the odds moved on Renfrow from his original signing to now?
Any predictions on a move as significant as the Mike Jackson trade from last year?
Will there be an August surprise?
I actually penned the article when he was signed, and at the time I didn’t think of it as more than a camp body signing with a practice squad chance as one of the veterans the teams can retain over the recent years. I do think, as much as I meme against it, he has a pretty solid chance of making the roster. I wouldn’t be shocked if he doesn’t, but right now he seems to be trending in that direction.
I don’t necessarily have a particular target in mind, but linebacker is the position I’d watch for that trade move/August surprise. I know fans have been lobbying for a corner or safety, and I fully expect for them to be sifting through waivers for other adds at those positions, but they seem to be content with letting the depth guys fight it out in training camp and the preseason so far. I think they will make a move at linebacker though, and there’s plenty of deep defenses in the league that will have to let someone go in hopes of bringing them back to the practice squad. A player like that may be available via a low risk trade like the Mike Jackson one from last season.
Bruce Guild: Seems in these early stages of camp there is a good amount of positive news coming out about some of the young LB’s and DB’s.
With this encouraging news has your perspective changed on how dire things had looked a few weeks ago with the LB’s and all offseason with the DB’s
Most of the news coming out of camp is always positive. Whether or not that’s actually indicative of anything is something we’ll need to wait a few weeks for. The biggest thing I was able to glean so far was from a Dave Canales press conference bit, which was that the Panthers definitely have a type as far as cornerback goes. He mentioned that length is helpful for corners who aren’t necessarily the fastest, as it can be forgiving when they are trying to make a play from behind on a route they were beaten on from the snap. To that end, I actually do find some value in hearing about what Shemar Bartholomew’s camp has looked like as a realistic roster contributor. When the camp hype mirrors what the coaches are actually looking for in a particular position, that’s when I pay attention.
I still think we’ll see a few 53 man roster cutdown claims like last year at both DB and LB, and as stated above, I think they will make some sort of trade at LB, because it seems like they didn’t anticipate Josey Jewell’s departure at all during free agency or the NFL Draft. I think DB is slightly better off than we expected, but not as rosey as the training camp buzz makes it out to be either. LB, that’s going to hinge largely on how Christian Rozeboom acclimates as the green dot guy alongside Trevin Wallace. I do like that Wallace is actively talking to Shaq Thompson and Luke Kuechly every day as he navigates his second year, but that doesn’t mean much to me until I see it translate on the field.
Snarky_Comet: Watching Hard Knocks, it seems like every team has that guy at training camp—the one no player wants to see walking their way. He’s the bearer of bad news, the guy who tells you to grab your playbook and head to the coach’s office… because you’re getting cut.
Do the Panthers have someone like that? Do we know who he is?
Do the players have a nickname for him?
If not, may I suggest “The Dream Dasher”?
I don’t know who he is, but I like to think he’s walking around in a Brenton Bersin jersey.
KeepPounding88: Sorry if this was asked and answered already, but what’s your way too early guess at who we draft in the 1st round next year? Not just a position, but the player.
I don’t even dabble that much in the next season’s draft talk every year, but kudos to anyone who did bullseye on Tetairoa McMillan as the Panthers draft target in 2024. I find the exercise to be a bit difficult because 1. we don’t even know where the Panthers will be picking and 2. 1st round projected players can have one bad year and find themselves in the 4-5 range or even undrafted. But, I’ll take a shot and say Utah OT Spencer Fano as the Taylor Moton replacement, since the waters are still murky as far as 2026 and beyond for him in Carolina.
positivebob: most position groups look set on offense, at least the starters. TE2,3 might be open for competition. Sanders is in, of course, but I wonder about his 20 lb weight loss. Maybe he is quicker, faster, but what about strength? TEs need to block, Sanders didn’t stand out in that department as I remember, a little heft might help. Between Evans, Mitchell, Dafney, Mabry, Pierre-not counting Tremble for week 1-there should be a battle for a couple of spots, or at least who sees snaps. I don’t know who the best STers are from that group, but like WR6, if there is one, RB3,4 ST coach will have a lot of input into those last 6,8 spots. Lot more open on defense. Beyond the starters, there should be some battles for most reserve spots. Even some starter spots at LB and safety look open to me. Good battles ahead.
As far as tight end goes, I still think they’ll only carry 3 and try to retain one or two guys on the practice squad. Ja’Tavion Sanders definitely isn’t the best blocker, but I doubt the Panthers drafted him to be a complete tight end in that regard. I also think that’s why these choseY Mitchell Evans this year rather than target a needier position, because they’ll need to continue to build complimentary skill-sets since they don’t have a Greg Olsen type in that room. That said, tight end is probably the position to pay attention to on offense during the preseason. Those reps are going to matter a lot in my opinion for the final decisions at depth.
Carolinacloggy: I have to ask Brian; are you Dutch or are you of Dutch ancestry? Cause that last name Beversluis is definitely Dutch 🙂
You are correct! The last name is definitely Dutch. There’s also some Welsh in my background, and despite the jokes, the name does have some linkage to Beavers and dams (locks). Beyond that, I don’t know a ton!
rtb2850: Hey, Brian! As the roster currently stands, the Panthers are hanging their hopes on several unproven 2nd year players at perceived positions of extreme need. While I’m in favor of the draft and develop approach that the team is demonstrating, it’s likely that not every one of these gambles will pay off. I’m specifically referencing JT Sanders, Trevin Wallace, Chau Smith-Wade, and Demani Richardson. Out of this group, who has the best chance of having a breakthrough campaign and claiming their role at a need position? Conversely, which out of this group will end up getting benched to the benefit of a potential unearted gem? In my opinion, the success of this group could possibly determine whether or not the 2025 Panthers can hit their ceiling and surpass everyone’s expectations. Realistically, barring a 2023-level collapse, we’re probably looking at a mixed bag of studs and duds with this group.
Some of the stuff I’ve seen on Twitter/X seems to indicate Chau Smith-Wade is coming along really well as the Panthers CB3. I’ll believe it when I see it, but he currently has a strong opportunity to claim that role purely of his own hard work and talent. Trevin Wallace will be thrust into a heavy role, but he’s not going to be the green dot guy, and I think that’s the best thing for his development. JT Sanders should be a receiver first option and as I stated above I think the Panthers built their TE room in a way to do that for him.
Demani Richardson probably has the best chance to truly surpass expectations. He had flashes all through camp and made several plays I can remember in the running game last season. Despite drafting Lathan Ransom, Richardson seems to be positioned to either start or play a significant role despite being an undrafted free agent in 2025. As far as being an “unearthed gem”, he’s got the best shot in my opinion. Though Chau Smith-Wade isn’t far behind him on my list. I doubt they’ll both be that, but I think one of them can be.
Join us next week for another edition of the mailbag, where you can ask your questions in Brian Asks early in the week! And Keep Pounding!!