Panthers at the break, are the newcomers helping turn things around?

Heading into the 2024 NFL season, it was widely speculated that the Carolina Panthers season would be lucky to finish as merely a disaster and not an unmitigated one. They had a new general manager and head coach whose hiring lead to substantial head scratching. They finished 2023 with the worst record in in the NFL but were not rewarded with the first overall pick in the draft. That had been traded it to the Bears in the much-discussed deal to acquire the rights to quarterback Bryce Young.

Before training camp opened, 2025 mock drafts had placed the Panthers in the top draft spot. Draft experts wrote that prediction in pen, so dire were forecasts for things in Charlotte. After a 47-10 drubbing at the hands of the New Orleans Saints on opening day, those dire prognostications appeared spot on.

That loss was followed by plenty of finger pointing and second guessing. General Manager Dan Morgan’s ability to construct a competitive roster was loudly questioned. Andy Dalton replaced Young as the starter and subsequently lost the starting job after he and his family were involved in a minor traffic accident. The season was escalating into a dumpster fire of a scale that could not be put out by the entire Charlotte Fire Department. But a funny thing happened on the way to Armageddon. The Panthers went on a little win streak.

Wins over the Saints and the New York Giants heading into their bye buoyed fans’ optimism. 

Young started to show confidence and accuracy that had eluded him in his professional career. The team was not wilting in crucial moments. Observers had, for now, no longer questioned whether Head Coach Dave Canales was in over his head. Instead of speculation on what the Panthers might do with the overall first selection, Carolina sits eighth overall in the projected order.

Dread is no longer the prevalent emotion facing the second half of the season. The mini-turnaround and sense of anticipation has not been driven singularly by Young’s improved play, but by the contributions of the 2024 draft class.

Morgan surprised many when he traded into the first round to select South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette. Legette was drafted to provide Young with a legitimate offensive weapon. He was eased into the lineup but has begun to show his skills. The quarterbacks are now targeting him more frequently and he is winning a fair portion of contested catches. He figures to be featured more prominently in the back half of the season with the departures of Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo. If he solidifies his chemistry with Young, presuming Young remains the starter, one building block for the franchise will be in place.

The Panthers paid royally for the right to draft Young. If that gamble has any chance to succeed, two things need to be put in place, weapons for the second-year quarterback and an offensive line that would keep him upright and healthy. The latter was addressed in free agency with the signings of guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. Morgan used his second selection, Texas running back Jonathan Brooks, to address the former. Or so he thought. Brooks carried a first round grade into the draft and was considered the best available prospect at his position. 

A knee injury incurred while playing for the Longhorns dropped him into the second round. It was hoped he would be available by the start of the regular season. However, his rehabilitation has been slower than expected. He will make his professional debut this week as the Panthers emerge from their bye to face the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. A healthy Brooks and a revitalized Chuba Howard have the makings of an explosive backfield. The two should make Young’s life a lot easier due to their game breaking ability.

A 2-15 team has holes all over the field. Morgan was not oblivious to that fact. The defense was as much in shambles as the offense. With his third pick, Morgan injected youth and athletic ability in the form of Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace. He has appeared in all 10 games, starting six. He has made his presence known already with at least one tackle in each game. He has forced two fumbles and recovered one. He has registered 50 tackles in 2024, one of which was for a loss. His play indicates he can be the leader of the Panthers’ defense in the future.

If any newcomer this year has electrified the fanbase, it has been fourth round selection, tight end JaTavion Sanders. Apart from the game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sanders has caught at least one pass in each game. He has one touchdown on the season and his run-after-catch ability is surprising for his 6’4”, 252 lbs. frame. A tight end is often a young quarterback’s best friend and Sanders has already established himself as a favorite of Young.

Morgan used his final three selections for the defensive side of the ball. Fifth round pick, cornerback Chau Smith-Wade from Washington State, is learning the trade in situational passing and special team snaps. He has 22 tackles with 19 of them coming in the last five games. There is no need to press him into the lineup with veteran cornerbacks JC Horn and Mike Jackson manning those spots. Horn is a free agent after the 2025 season and Jackson is a free agent after this season. Smith-Wade could find himself in a starting role as early as next season. 

Sixth round defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy from Mississippi State was drafted for the same reasons as Wallace, youth, athletic ability, and depth. That was plan was short circuited when Crumedy injured his ankle in the team’s pre-season opener in August. He was activated from the injured reserve list prior to the Panthers game against the Giants. However, he was inactive for the game. Crumedy is expected to have a rotational role for the remainder of the season. The porous defense could allow an increased role depending on his performance.

Morgan’s final pick was Michigan linebacker Michael Barrett in the seventh round. Barrett did not make the team. But he still contributed to the Panthers this season. He was traded at the end of training camp to the Seattle Seahawks for Jackson. This move should pay dividends in the future with either a Jackson contract extension or a possible draft pick compensation should Jackson sign elsewhere. That is not a bad return for the 240th selection.

If Sanders has been the most exciting rookie, undrafted free agent Jalen Coker out of Holy Cross is a close second. Coker did not make the team out of training camp and was added to the Panthers’ practice squad. He was elevated to the main roster before the September 29th game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He did not have a catch in that game but has been a regular contributor in the other six games in which he has appeared. He caught his first NFL touchdown on October 27thagainst the Denver Broncos. His non-stop motor and infectious personality have made him a fan favorite.

The Panthers first game after the bye will be a challenge when they host the Chiefs. The Chiefs are coming off their first loss of the season and will be looking to make someone pay. Fans should not overreact if the game is not competitive. Their game against the Eagles on December 8th will also find them as prohibitive underdogs. The rest of the schedule features games in which the Panthers should have a puncher’s chance at victory.

Carolina is no threat to make the playoffs in 2024, even in the weak NFC South. A few wins will go a long way to fading the doomsayers’ predictions into oblivion. With a solid free agency period and another strong draft, the period of the Panthers contending is much closer at hand than anyone could have imagined just three months ago. This rookie class should be a solid part of the future foundation.