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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/robsbob18 on 2025-02-25 13:55:57+00:00.

Introduction

I’m gonna be real I had a whole intro but had to cut it cause the post exceeded the character maximum. Here’s a little bit about the Panther’s season. I’ll put it in the comments.

2024 Record:

W-L-T: 5-12

Home: 3-6

Away: 2-6

Division: 2-4

Andy Dalton: 1-4

Bryce Young: 4-8

2024 Draft Class

Round 1: Xavier Legette – WR – South Carolina

  • 49 rec – 497 rec yds, 4 TD; 6 car – 24 yds
  • Grade: C
  • Legette received playtime from the beginning, but did sit behind Diontae Johnson at first. Once Johnson was gone, XL saw an uptick in looks but was not able to capitalize and deliver as a WR1. With rumored wrist surgery coming in the offseason, this could help XL get a better grip and hold onto balls. Fans complained about his drops this season (7 drops on 84 targets) and rightly so. While drops are a part of the game, XL’s drop rate puts him on par with wide receivers like Xavier Worthy and Demario Douglas (7 drops on 98 targets and 87 targets respectively). While a bonafide number one like CeeDee Lamb has 7 drops on 152 targets and fellow rookie Brian Thomas Jr. has 7 drops on 133 targets.

Round 2: Jonathon Brooks – RB – Texas

  • 9 car – 22 yds; 3 rec – 23 yds
  • Grade: Incomplete
  • I originally wanted to give this draft pick an F, but was convinced by u/cyberjag to give an incomplete. With Brooks likely to miss all of next season, the Panthers will be looking to fill the depth chart behind Chuba Hubbard through the draft and free agency. Not being able to evaluate a second round draft pick until their third NFL season does not bode well for Brooks or the Panthers.

Round 3: Trevin Wallace – LB – Kentucky

  • 64 TOT (36 solo – 28 ast) – 1 sack – 2 FF – 1 FR – 3 stfs
  • Grade: C+
  • Wallace began as a backup and special teams player but started once Shaq Thompson went down with an injury. Wallace showed his athleticism, covering the field and finishing second on the team in tackles and leading the team in forced fumbles. Wallace posted these numbers while missing the last four games of the season. While not overly impressive, the Panthers defense has other holes which require more immediate attention. Expect Wallace to start alongside Josey Jewell at the beginning of next season.

Round 4: Ja’Tavion Sanders – TE – Texas

  • 33 rec, 342 yds, 1 TD
  • Grade: B-
  • The Panther’s took the athletic tight end in the fourth hoping he would be able to seize his place in a weak TE room. Sanders was used heavily in passing situations, especially with the injury to Tommy Tremble, and showed flashes in a couple of games (Week 9 vs NO he put up 4 for 87). During Bryce Young’s resurgence down the stretch, Sanders seemingly disappeared between weeks 13-16 only recording one catch for 5 yards on three targets. During this time Tommy Tremble returned to claim a starter’s share of the snaps, however Tremble did not impress much in the passing (or blocking) game either. With Tremble and Ian Thomas out of contract, Sanders is primed to be TE1a next season for the Panther’s partnered with whomever the Panthers sign or draft or both.

Round 5: Chau Smith-Wade – CB – Washington St

  • 39 TOT (24 solo - 15 ast) – 1 FF – 1 INT
  • Grade: D
  • Drafting an undersized cornerback is always a gamble and new General Manager Dan Morgan was willing to risk it for how hard he saw CSW play in his college days. CSW was drafted to play slot corner and played a majority of his snaps in that position. According to PFF grades, CSW finished ranked 106 out of 117 qualifying CBs. His tenacity showed up in his above average rush defense, however his size often allowed receivers to get the best of him. Do not be surprised to see the Panthers address slot corner in free agency or the draft.

Round 6: Jaden Crumedy – DT – Mississippi St

  • 13 TOT (4 solo - 9 ast) – 0.5 sack
  • Grade: D
  • Crumedy was drafted in the sixth round to provide depth to a weak defensive line, and even with injuries, Crumedy was the 11th defensive tackle to see the field for the Panthers, not playing until week 14. Crumedy will continue to be a depth piece next season, as Derrick Brown returns from injury and A’shawn Robinson leads a unit of below average backups.

Round 7: Michael Barrett – LB – Michigan

  • No Stats
  • Grade: B
  • A player who played zero snaps for the Panthers has a B? Dan Morgan sent Barrett to Seattle in the preseason for CB Mike Jackson, who became a key contributor to the secondary. Barrett was cut from Seattle and is now on Green Bay’s practice squad.

UDFA: Jalen Coker – WR – Holy Cross

  • 32 rec – 478 yds – 2 TD
  • Grade: B+
  • Coker was signed as an UDFA and quickly began to earn praise from inside the organization for his work ethic. Slotted at the bottom of the depth chart to start the season, the trades of Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo, along with the injury to Adam Thielen and XL’s disappointing play, opened the avenue for Coker’s playing time. Coker showed sure hands (2 drops on 46 targets, putting his drop rate around the percentages of CeeDee and BTJ) and became a fan favorite, with the lunatics (including myself) dubbing themselves Coke Heads. With David Moore out of contract, the trio of XL, Coker and Adam Thielen (barring retirement) will be the WR corp the Panthers build around in free agency and the draft.

2024 Free Agent Signings/Trade Additions

Robert Hunt – G – 5yr/$100mil & Damien Lewis – G – 4yr/$53mil

  • The Carolina Panthers two biggest signings should be mentioned together. The team chose to invest around Bryce Young and it started up front. These two seem to be worth their contracts, as adding both guys cements the guard positions for years to come.

Yosh Nijman – OT – 2yr/$8mil

  • Nijman got some playing time at RT this season and will stick around for one more season to step up in case of emergency. This signing isn’t as flashy as the other two offensive lineman, but having a backup OT is crucial for the Panthers because of potential injuries and Ikem Ekwonu’s inconsistent play.

David Moore – WR – 1yr

  • The veteran WR signed with the Panthers and kept his career going for one more season. Throughout the season Moore created a repertoire with Bryce Young and down the stretch he became a reliable target for the young QB. While his numbers were not electric, Moore proved himself a serviceable NFL WR. Unless he is looking to sign for a contender this offseason, the Panthers should be able to re-sign Moore as cheap, veteran depth to mentor younger receivers alongside Adam Thielen.

A’shawn Robinson – DT – 3yr/$22.5mil

  • With the injury to Derrick Brown, Robinson was given the opportunity to step up into the starting role. While he led the league in tackles for a DT, it had more to do with volume than quality. With the return of Derrick Brown next year, as well as free agent and draft additions, Robinson will most likely see a decrease in playtime.

Jadeveon Clowney – LB/EDGE – 2yr/$20mil

  • Clowney was an above average edge rusher in the league this past season but missed a few games due to injury. There’s no telling if Clowney will regress with age next year or improve with Derrick Brown returning from injury and other free agent and draft additions. While Panther fans certainly had higher expectations for Clowney’s first season home, few will blame him for our struggles this year.

DJ Wonnum – LB/EDGE – 2yr/$12.5mil

  • Wonnum spent the beginning of the year injured and came back to an injury-riddled defensive line. Panther fans are certainly hoping for an upgrade off of the edge to pair alongside Clowney, but if Wonnum can stay healthy for next season, he would prove to be a valuable depth piece along the line.

Josey Jewell – LB – 2yr/$12.5mil

  • The fact that Panther fans appreciated Jewell’s average season speaks to the lack of quality on the Panther’s defense. Jewell played in every game of the season, anchoring the ILB position. While Panther fans reminisce about Luke Kuechly, they will have to make due with the Jewell/Wallace tandem, as there is no obvious replacement to target through the draft or free agency and also more immediate needs to address on the defense.

Dane Jackson – CB – 2yr/$14.5mil

  • Dane Jackson was signed to give cornerback depth and compete for the spot alongside Horn but lost. In the snaps Jackson played, he did not impress and was released by the Panthers earlier this week to free cap space.

Mike Jackson – CB – traded from Seahawks

  • The Panthers acquired Mike Jackson from the Seahawks for seventh round draft pick Michael Barrett to help with cornerback depth. Jackson exceeded all expectations and became the starter opposite of Jaycee Horn and one of the lone bright spots on an otherwise poor defense. The Panthers are expected to try to bring him back as he finished second in snaps for cornerbacks, showing durability which Panther fans have not been used to at the position.

Diontae Johnson – WR – traded from Steelers

  • The Panthers wanted to bolster the receiving corps around their young QB, so they acquired Diontae Johnson from the Steelers for Donte Jackson (yes, another CB named Jackson). While Johnson proved to be an impactful player at the beginning of the season, rumors of growing frustrations with losing caused the Panthers to trade away their recently acquired receiver. The trade was ridiculed at the time, as the Panthers traded Johnson and a sixth round pick for a fifth rounder. However, it seems it was an attitude problem with th…

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