The Carolina Panthers needed a big offseason to support their ascending head coach and quarterback. What are the big questions now that they have made their offseason moves?

Do they really trust the secondary?

The Carolina Panthers’ secondary was an issue entering the offseason, and it does not appear as though they did much on paper to address that. They added Trevon Moehrig, who will help at safety, but their cornerback room resembles last season, when it was a major issue. Maybe they see something in Chau Smith-Wade and Mike Jackson, but little has shown that these are solutions. 

Will the rookies give them enough pass rush juice?

The Panthers’ pass rush was poor last season, and entering the 2025 draft, the team had an aging Jadeveon Clowney and then two former Vikings rushers in DJ Wonnum and Pat Jones. The team needed pass rush juice, and passing on it in round one for a receiver was a surprise of the draft. However, they came back with two draft picks in round two. Can these two rookie edge rushers make a difference, or is this defense clearly still a year away when you add in the cornerback issues? 

Who is the odd man out in the WR corps?

The Panthers added Tetoria McMillan to a room that needed help, but it still brings questions. They saw Adam Thielen lead the team in yards last year, but their two rookies, Xavier Leggette and Jalen Coker, had 497 and 478 yards, respectively. 

Coker averaged more yards per route run, but he got a lot of his work in the slot when Thielen was out. With Thieeln in the slot, and Leggette being a first-round pick alongside McMillan, you would assume those are the three with Coker sliding into the fourth spot. However, Coker could push the former first-round pick, and the aging veteran who is worth watching. 

How to sort out the running back room?

With Jonathan Brooks out this year, it looked like Chuba Hubbard was going to be a stud in fantasy. Then the Panthers added Rico Dowdle, who can clearly handle his own as a rusher. Then, they drafted Trevor Etienne in the draft. They can say that both additions were valuable given the cost, but I can say that this will be a three-man committee that will be tough to digest in fantasy. 

Who plays the most at tight end?

The Panthers extended Tommy Tremble and love what he brings, even if that is mostly as a blocker. They drafted Ja’Tavion Sanders last year, and while it was a fourth-round pick, he put up over 300 yards as a rookie, showing promise. Now, Mitchell Evans comes in with a fifth-round draft tag. Evans is almost a blend of Tremble and Sanders and could push both.