The Panthers’ season ended in a way they didn’t want, but there is a real reason for optimism going forward. Their playoff performance against a very strong Los Angeles Rams team showed both how far this roster has come and how far it still needs to go. The result didn’t go their way, but the film made one thing clear: the Panthers are close, but not complete.
Several issues showed up in that game and throughout the season that must be addressed this offseason. With Dan Morgan signaling a “patient but aggressive” approach to free agency, these are priorities Carolina can’t afford to ignore. Here are the Carolina Panthers’ offseason priorities.
Pass Rusher
This has to be priority number one.
The Panthers finished 16th in total defense, 15th in pass defense, and 20th in run defense, but the deeper numbers tell a different story. Carolina ranked 31st in pressure rate, 30th in total sacks, and near the bottom of the league in pass rush win rate. Most concerning, they were 31st in third-down defense.
In the NFL, third-down defense comes down to two things: winning early downs and getting to the quarterback. Carolina struggled to do the second all season.
Late in the year, the problem became obvious. Seattle converted key third downs to extend drives. Against Tampa Bay, Baker Mayfield kept plays alive with his legs because the Panthers couldn’t finish. Against the Rams, Carolina brought pressure with blitzes, but Matthew Stafford still had enough time to let his receivers win on 50/50 balls.
Dan Morgan has already acknowledged this issue, and league insiders expect Carolina to be aggressive in adding edge help—whether that’s a big signing like Trey Hendrickson or solid veteran additions. However, they do it, the Panthers need a true difference-maker off the edge. Nothing else will fix the third-down problem.
Xavier Legette
Xavier Legette is a fan favorite, but as Panthers legend Steve Smith has said, fan favorites are for productive players—or young players. Going into Year 3, Legette is no longer young.
He’s shown flashes of what the Panthers hoped for. His touchdowns against the Dolphins and Falcons were highlights. But his season was also filled with mistakes that are getting harder to ignore.
Drops were an issue, including a costly dropped touchdown against Philadelphia. Mental mistakes showed up too, from lining up offside after being warned to running the wrong route on plays where Bryce Young was clearly looking for him.
With Tetairoa McMillan locked in as the No. 1 receiver and Jalen Coker emerging as a reliable No. 2 from the same draft class, the margin for error is gone. At some point, potential has to turn into consistency. If it doesn’t, the Panthers may have to move on, similar to what the Colts did with Adonai Mitchell.
Hope is not a development plan. Carolina Panthers’ offseason priorities need to address Legette.
Decide What They Want From Bryce Young
Picking up Bryce Young’s fifth-year option was the right move. It gives the Panthers control and shows belief in him. Talks about a possible early extension support that idea.
But the mixed messaging that followed—especially the talk about bringing in “competition”—creates confusion.
There isn’t a realistic quarterback option available that would truly push Young without wasting cap space or draft picks. The reality is this is Bryce Young’s team, whether the Panthers say it directly or not.
That makes clarity important. The organization needs to clearly define what success looks like for Bryce Young and what they expect from him. If he’s the future, then the roster decisions and messaging should reflect that. Evaluating a quarterback without stability helps no one.
Stabilize the Interior Offensive Line
This is a quieter priority, but it impacts everything the Panthers want to learn about Bryce Young.
Cade Mays and Austin Corbett are both unrestricted free agents, and there’s also uncertainty at left tackle after Ikem Ekwonu’s injury. That’s a lot of instability for a quarterback heading into a critical season. Robert Hunt, who signed a 5-year, $100 million contract, is still contrubting along side Taylor Morton, who has improved this year.
Continuity up front matters. You can’t properly evaluate a quarterback when protection changes every week, and pressure comes straight up the middle. Whether it’s re-signing Mays, drafting interior help, or both, this needs to be handled early.
If the Panthers truly believe in Bryce Young, protecting him has to match that belief.
Inside Linebacker
The middle of the defense remains a problem, and it showed up again in the playoff loss to the Rams.
Offenses consistently attacked Carolina’s linebackers in coverage, putting more stress on the secondary and limiting what the pass rush could do. This isn’t a one-player fix. The Panthers likely need two new starters at inside linebacker, not just depth.
This is where Dan Morgan’s “patient but aggressive” approach makes sense. Adding smart veterans who can communicate, tackle, and hold up in coverage could go a long way toward fixing this unit. As a former Middle Linebacker, his opinion and expertise will be needed to find the right players for Evero’s scheme.
Final Thought
The Panthers made real progress this season. They won the division, made the playoffs, and showed they belong. But being close isn’t enough anymore.
If Carolina wants to take the next step—from division winner to real contender—these priorities have to be addressed. The margin is thin, the problems are clear, and now it’s on the front office to finish the job. These Carolina Panthers’ offseason priorities need to be addressed to continue their momentum.
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