Carolina Panthers

The talented defensive tackle's $24 million in average annual compensation will make him the league's fourth highest-paid defensive tackle behind the Chiefs' Chris Jones, the Raiders' Christian Wilkins and the Ravens' Justin Madubuike. Brown thrived in the 3-4 scheme implemented in Carolina last season, recording a career-high 103 tackles, including 2.0 sacks, an interception and five additional passes defensed.

Selected by Cincinnati in the second round pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, Dalton left the Bengals following the 2019 season, head coach Zac Taylor's first with the franchise. Dalton was benched during that 2-14 season, and the Bengals eventually drafted Joe Burrow with the first overall pick that April, fully turning the page on the Dalton era. Sunday's game will mark Dalton's fourth start against his former team, with the Red Rifle having gone 2-1 over the first three games.

Mingo is second on the team in snap rate through Week 3, though he has only six receptions on 11 targets. Based on his role to this point, he should be projected to be on the field for all three-receiver sets alongside Diontae Johnson and rookie Xavier Legette. After falling flat in his rookie year, this could be Mingo's best chance to prove that he deserves a role in the Carolina offense in the long term.

Legette has played the fourth-most snaps among Carolina's receiver corps through three games, though only Diontae Johnson has operated as a near full-time option. However, with Thielen on IR while dealing with a severe hamstring strain, Legette should be on the field in all three-receiver sets. The Panthers have rotated their slot receiver, so it's unclear where he will primarily line up.

Young threw for only 245 yards in two games before being benched for Andy Dalton in Week 3, and Dalton proceeded to post 319 yards and three touchdowns through the air in a 36-22 win over the Raiders. Carolina plans to keep Young around in a backup role this season and could even opt to turn back to the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft should Dalton struggle or get hurt, but Young may well be moved to another team in the offseason if the Panthers get the right trade offer.

Thielen injured his hamstring on a touchdown catch in the second quarter of Carolina's Week 3 win over the Raiders. He did record 40 yards on three catches in addition to his TD before exiting. Diontae Johnson had an even bigger game with 122 yards and a touchdown on eight catches as a quarterback change to Andy Dalton revived Carolina's passing game. Jonathan Mingo and rookie Xavier Legette will also likely see more action in the passing game with Thielen sidelined.

Head coach Dave Canales relayed Wednesday that there has been no desire to trade Young since the switch at quarterback. However, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Saturday that several teams have contacted the Panthers with interest in trading for the second-year quarterback. Young's short tenure with Carolina has been rocky, and he was benched for Dalton after starting the season completing just 55.4 percent of his passes for 245 yards and three interceptions across two games. Graziano believes that a new environment for the Young would be beneficial for the 23-year-old quarterback, especially when surrounded by talented players like running back De'Von Achane and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Brooks was ticketed to be Carolina's top running back after being taken in the second round of this year's draft. The former Texas star is still recovering from a torn ACL he sustained in November. Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders figures to split backfield work for the Panthers early on.

If Dalton's start against the Raiders on Sunday goes anything like his one fill-in appearance for Young last season, when he threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns, Johnson could be a primary beneficiary. Dalton brings exponentially greater experience than Young, and his savvy may be just what Johnson needs to turn in his first productive game as a member of the Panthers after mustering just five catches for 34 yards on 12 targets over his first two contests.

The veteran wideout has been with Young since Day 1 of the latter's arrival on the scene in Carolina, and he publicly defended his teammate Wednesday. Thielen has just a five catches for 69 yards on seven targets over the first two games this season while working with Young, but that didn't stop him from saying he's "excited" for the young signal-caller's future.

Canales unsurprisingly talked up the 2023 first overall pick's future despite his 2-16 career mark as starter and utterly forgettable first two games this season. Young's future and Canales' status as the Panthers' head coach are intertwined, considering the latter's stellar reputation for turning around troubled quarterbacks is what was believed to have been the driving force behind his hiring in Carolina. Notably, Canales and several of Young's teammates praised the quarterback's work ethic and attitude running the scout team Wednesday while Andy Dalton handled first-team reps.

Canales said only that he thought Dalton gave Carolina the best chance to win this week, keeping open the possibility that Young might reclaim the job at some point later in the season. That seems unlikely at the moment, however. After an awful rookie season, the first overall pick in the 2023 Draft has begun his second NFL campaign by completing just 55.4 percent of his passes through two games with a 0:3 TD:INT and a pitiful 4.4 yards per attempt. He will likely need to show significant improvement in practice, or have the 36-year-old Dalton suffer an injury, before Canales would consider throwing Young into the fire again.

Young, the first overall pick in the 2023 Draft, is coming off a dreadful rookie season and has shown no signs of progress in Carolina's two blowout losses to begin the current campaign, forcing Canales' hand. The coach said only that Dalton gave his team the best chance to win this week, however, hinting that Young could reclaim the starting job at some point. Jack Plummer, an undrafted rookie, is on the Panthers' practice squad, but Canales said Monday the organization has no plans to bring in another QB.

The full extent of the injury won't be known until surgery is performed on the knee. Brown signed a four-year, $96 million contract extension in April to be the foundation piece for Carolina's front seven following a March trade that sent Brian Burns to the Giants, but the Panthers may not end up seeing much return on the deal until 2025.

Sanders was likely to carve out a significant role in Carolina's underwhelming tight end room before long, anyway, but his ascent to the top of the depth chart could be accelerated by injuries to his teammates. If Tremble's hamstring and back injuries or Thomas' calf injury keep them from suiting up, Sanders would likely see the majority of playing time over converted wide receiver Jordan Matthews and unproven depth option Messiah Swinson.

Tremble is dealing with hamstring and back injuries while Thomas has a calf injury. Matthews converted from wide receiver to tight end heading into the 2024 campaign and thrived at his new position during the preseason, catching a touchdown pass from starting quarterback Bryce Young in the preseason finale. If both Tremble and Thomas sit out Sunday against the Saints, Matthews' competition for playing time would be rookie fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders and Messiah Swinson.

An offseason trade for Diontae Johnson and the selection of Xavier Legette with the 32nd overall pick in the 2024 Draft might not leave any room for Marshall at wide receiver, despite the fact that he was a second-round pick himself in 2021. The LSU product has dealt with injuries during his three seasons with Carolina and has been unable to establish himself as a reliable downfield option, but he's looked healthy in training camp. A reunion in Buffalo with offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who was on the Panthers' staff when Marshall was drafted, could make sense for both teams.

The offseason trade acquisition has also dealt with a groin injury this summer, and the missed practices have been less than ideal considering the Panthers are implementing a new offensive system under first-time head coach Dave Canales. Johnson projects as the Panthers' No. 1 receiver going into the 2024 season, so his ability to log game action with Bryce Young and the rest of his teammates for the first time would be particularly valuable ahead of Week 1.

Despite the fact the Panthers have implemented a new offensive system under first-year head coach Dave Canales, the latter has opted not to put his starters to the test in game action through the first two weeks of the exhibition slate. That will change Saturday against what is projected to be a Bills team staffed by reserves, with Canales explaining his decision to delay the debut of his starters stems from a combination of some key injuries and the fact he felt the team did not have a full "grasp of the system" yet.

Carolina selected Jonathan Brooks with the 46th overall pick in the 2024 Draft as the first running back off the board, but the Texas product is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last November and has yet to begin practicing. That likely means he will begin the season on the reserve/PUP list, which would keep him out until at least Week 5. While Brooks is on the shelf, Hubbard will retain the starting job he held in 2023, when he recorded a career-high 902 rushing yards over 17 games.

The Texas product was the first running back selected in the 2024 Draft, going 46th overall, but Brooks has yet to begin practicing as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL suffered last November. If he isn't available for the start of the regular season, Chuba Hubbard would remain the Panthers' starter for at least one more month.

Despite being drafted with the last pick of the first round by the Panthers in 2024, Legette appears poised to begin his NFL career in a bench role. Mingo, a second-round draft pick in 2023, is set to occupy a top-3 role in the Panthers' receiving corps alongside Adam Thielen and offseason addition Diontae Johnson.

Mingo is poised to open the 2024 campaign as a top-3 wide receiver alongside veterans Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen. The 39th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft had a quiet rookie season, posting only 418 receiving yards without a touchdown, but Mingo has been running ahead of Legette, whom the Panthers selected 32nd overall in 2024.

Sanders has been getting some first-team reps alongside Chuba Hubbard in practice with rookie second-round pick Jonathon Brooks unavailable as he completes his recovery from a knee injury. Carolina's choice to draft Brooks in the first place suggests the team may not have a favorable view of Sanders after the free-agent addition flopped in the first year of a four-year, $25.4 million contract in 2023. Sanders produced just 586 scrimmage yards for the Panthers after averaging 1,163 scrimmage yards over the previous four regular seasons with the Eagles.

Brooks is rehabbing from the torn ACL he sustained last November in his final collegiate season in Texas, and he isn't expected to play until Week 3, per Joe Person of The Athletic. However, Florio draws comparison of Brooks' situation to Todd Gurley in 2015, who also missed the first two games of the regular season before finishing with 1,106 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 229 carries in 13 games. The Panthers invested into their offensive line by signing guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, and head coach Dave Canales utilized running backs heavily when he was the offensive coordinator with the Bucs in 2023, which should give Brooks the tools to show out in his rookie season.

Presumptive starter Tommy Tremble is dealing with both a hamstring and calf injury, and Ian Thomas is dealing with a calf issue himself. It has allowed Sanders to operate as the top tight end during team drills, and head coach Dave Canales said after Thursday's practice that he has liked the progression of the rookie fourth-round pick during training camp. Sanders has an excellent opportunity to establish himself as a big, reliable target for second-year quarterback Bryce Young and usurp Tremble as the No. 1 tight end on the Panthers' depth chart.

Kownack suggests Brooks will be worked in slowly, even if he's ready to take the field in the Panthers' first training camp practice. However, despite the fact the rookie shares the running back room with an accomplished veteran trio of Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and Rashaad Penny, Kownack makes a case for Brooks to eventually earn a substantial role after the team traded up to select him.

Marshall requested a trade during the 2023 season, but he has the chance to benefit from a fresh start with a new coaching staff in Carolina, and coach Dave Canales praised the receiver's performance in spring practices. Nonetheless, Kaye views Marshall as far from a lock to make the team. Veterans Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen are locks to make the squad while 2023 second-round pick Jonathan Mingo and 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette -- who is nursing a hamstring injury -- both offer high upside as recent early draft picks. Ihmir Smith-Marsette offers more on special teams than Marshall, and the Panthers would gain $1.44 million in cap space by cutting or trading Marshall.

Smith-Marsette's speed and versatility will likely earn him a role in new coach Dave Canales' offense if the 24-year-old wide receiver continues to impress on offense. He's a safe bet to make Carolina's roster, as Smith-Marsette is also a prominent special teams contributor, having returned a punt for a touchdown last season.

The Panthers bolstered their receiving corps by trading for Diontae Johnson and drafting Xavier Legette -- who is battling a hamstring injury -- in the first round. Nonetheless, Thielen is expected to reprise a prominent role in his age-34 season after leading the team with 103 catches and 1,014 receiving yards in 2023.

The position is likely to be featured more in the passing game under new head coach Dave Canales, and there's nowhere to go but up as over the last four seasons, Carolina has ranked last in the NFL in tight end production. Thomas' roster spot is secure due to his blocking ability, but he's also been the more consistent receiver this spring ahead of 2024 fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders and 2021 third-round pick Tommy Tremble. Thomas hasn't caught more than 36 passes in a season since he was a rookie in 2018, but he still possesses good size and athleticism and could emerge as a red-zone option for quarterback Bryce Young.

The embattled 2023 first overall pick struggled through a nightmarish rookie season, but this offseason's hiring of head coach Dave Canales, who worked wonders with Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay last season, was largely a move to salvage Young's career. It appears to be working well thus far, with positive reports emerging about Young's performance in OTAs and minicamps. Those, combined with Brooks' belief in Canales' coaching acumen and his ability to shape the offense into a quarterback-friendly system, makes the analyst a believer that a bounce-back year for Young could be in the offing.

The 26-year-old edge rusher was signed as a free agent in the offseason after recording eight sacks and a career-high 62 tackles with the Vikings in 2023. Wonnum has yet to practice with his new club, however, putting his availability for camp in serious doubt. He still has time to get healthy prior to Week 1, but he'll need to show progress soon.

Johnson's remark came after he was asked about all the big-money deals recently signed by wide receivers. While he's unlikely to be paid in the same ballpark as the likes of Justin Jefferson, Johnson could still benefit from the increasing monetary value being placed on the wide receiver position. Johnson's entering the final season of a two-year, $36.7 million contract he signed with the Steelers. He was traded to Carolina in the offseason and is open to signing an extension with his new team despite having yet to have played in a game for the Panthers.

Coach Dave Canales said Young had his best day operating the offense Tuesday. He still made some notable mistakes, including an interception at the goal line, but he was praised for his comfort and familiarity with the offense. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson also noted that Young is both making his reads and getting rid of the ball faster compared to earlier offseason sessions.

Newton notes that Carolina tight ends over the past four seasons have ranked last in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns. Head coach Dave Canales said Wednesday that he's bringing in a "tight end friendly" scheme to Carolina's offense that he utilized as the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, which should give Sanders the chance to establish himself as a reliable target for quarterback Bryce Young in the passing game. Sanders, who was taken in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, accumulated 99 catches for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns over his final two seasons at Texas.

Hubbard ultimately helmed the Panthers' ground game in 2023 despite the addition of Miles Sanders, posting a career-high 902 rushing yards and complementing them with a career-best 39-233-0 line through the air. Blair notes that while Carolina has added competition at running back for a second straight offseason in the form of second-round pick Jonathon Brooks, new head coach Dave Canales could lean on the versatile and ultra-reliable Hubbard as he tries to design an offense that's comfortable for embattled second-year quarterback Bryce Young.

Canales has had a lot of success in his coaching career when it comes to getting the best out of his quarterbacks, as both Russell Wilson and Geno Smith thrived with Canales on the coaching staff in Seattle, and he was Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator last season when Baker Mayfield had a breakout campaign. Young is coming off a disastrous rookie season in Carolina, but the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft has been given the supporting cast to take a big step forward in 2024.

Bowen notes that Young averaged just 5.5 yards per attempt to tight ends last season, so bringing in the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Sanders will cause mismatches against defensive backs in the Panthers' passing game designed by head coach Dave Canales. Sanders was the fourth tight end taken in the 2024 NFL Draft behind Brock Bowers, Ben Sinnott and Tip Reiman. Sanders spent two seasons with Texas and accumulated 99 catches for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns over that span.

Head coach Dave Canales noted after practice that Plummer and quarterback Sean Chambers spent much of the sessions "trying to catch up to the speed and explosion of [Legette] coming out of his breaks." The lack of chemistry between Legette and the quarterbacks during rookie minicamp led to passes above and behind the South Carolina wideout, but with OTAs set to start Monday, he will start to build an on-field rapport with 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young. Legette broke out in his final season at South Carolina, finishing with 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns.

Hubbard closed the 2023 season as Carolina's starter after he overtook Miles Sanders on the depth chart. While the team went on to select Jonathan Brooks in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the rookie is recovering from a torn ACL and will have his workload monitored at the beginning of the season. As Brooks ramps up, Hubbard will likely see the majority of carries out of the backfield, but he'll see his role decrease as the season progresses.

The Panthers traded up for Brooks in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft despite already having both Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders in their backfield. However, that depth will allow Brooks -- recovering from a torn ACL -- to slowly take over the majority of carries. Hubbard is instead expected to shoulder most of the workload initially.

The Panthers traded back into the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft to select Legette 32nd overall. Coach Dave Canales' time with Metcalf while in Seattle could be a potential explanation for Carolina's interest in Legette. He isn't the same elite athlete as Metcalf, but Legette does have a similar frame at 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds.

The Panthers made a flurry of moves during the 2024 NFL Draft, one of which was trading up from pick 52 to pick 46 in the second round to select Brooks. While Brooks' physicality and contact balance in a 6-foot, 216-pound frame allowed him to average over 6.0 yards per carry in each of his three years at Texas and have drawn comparisons to Samuel, Brooks had only 54 touches across his first two years before a 212-touch season in 2023. Brooks is also recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November, so he hasn't shown the ability to handle a large workload for an extended period.

The additions of wideout Xavier Legette, running back Jonathan Brooks and tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders were all designed to provide Young with more dynamic playmakers after the quarterback struggled badly as a rookie working with veterans like Adam Thielen and Miles Sanders. Carolina also revamped its offensive line in free agency while trading for Diontae Johnson, so the pressure is now on Young to begin to justify being the first overall selection in 2023.

The Panthers picked Sanders 101st overall out of Texas with the first pick of Day 3 in the 2024 NFL Draft. Tremble started seven of Carolina's last eight games in 2023 as Hayden Hurst was sidelined by a concussion, and Hurst subsequently signed with the Chargers, leaving Tremble as the Panthers' top tight end heading into this season prior to the addition of Sanders.

Brooks is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November while playing for Texas, but that didn't stop him from being the first running back drafted in 2024 at 46th overall. Sanders has a chance to carve out a larger role under a new coaching staff after losing the starting job to Chuba Hubbard last year, but the former Eagles running back will be fighting an uphill battle for touches against both Brooks and Hubbard.

Brooks is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November, but if the running back out of Texas is healthy by the start of the season, he's likely to surpass both Hubbard and Miles Sanders on Carolina's running back depth chart. At 46th overall, Brooks was the first running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. Hubbard led the Panthers with 902 rushing yards on 238 carries in 2023.

Sanders began the 2023 season as Carolina's starting running back after signing a four-year, $25.4 million contract, but he quickly lost the top job to Chuba Hubbard and finished with only 432 rushing yards to Hubbard's 902. The change in coaching staff could prove beneficial for Sanders, who will have a fresh start and a chance to carve out a larger role after his disappointing debut season with the Panthers.

Hubbard supplanted Sanders as Carolina's top backfield option in the first half of the 2023 season. All told, Hubbard finished with 902 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 238 carries to Sanders' 432 rushing yards on 129 attempts. Sanders has three years left on a four-year, $25.4 million contract, while Hubbard is entering the final season of his four-year rookie deal. Given the team's larger monetary commitment to Sanders, Hubbard could cede a larger share of carries to Sanders than he did last season with their slates wiped clean in front of a new coaching staff.

The talented defensive tackle's $24 million in average annual compensation will make him the league's fourth highest-paid defensive tackle behind the Chiefs' Chris Jones, the Raiders' Christian Wilkins and the Ravens' Justin Madubuike. Brown thrived in the 3-4 scheme implemented in Carolina last season, recording a career-high 103 tackles, including 2.0 sacks, an interception and five additional passes defensed.