Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales has a word with an assistant in the second quarter game against the Buffalo Bills at the New Highmark Stadium.
Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
First came the Carolina Panthers hype for Bryce Young. Then the quarterback stumbled a bit. But there’s no doubt about his standing on the team. That’s not the case with other players, and here is the prediction for the Panthers’ 53-man roster for the 2026 NFL season.
It could be a tough season for the Panthers if Young takes a step back instead of moving forward. Making the right roster decisions would help him.
Quarterbacks (3)
Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett, Haynes King
Young is QB1, and Pickett is QB2. So does King fit into the 53-man equation? It’s a tough call, but he looked good in the Hall of Fame contest. It doesn’t help King’s cause that he suffered a hamstring injury in the contest.
For now, it looks like the Panthers will roll with three QBs. But if things get really tight this week at another position, King might join Kyle Trask on the outs.
Running backs (4)
Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks, Trevor Etienne, AJ Dillon
This is actually an interesting backfield mix. It’s potentially strong and deep. Keeping Dillon cuts out Anthony Tyus III. But that looks like the right call.
Regardless, the Panthers seem to want a committee approach, according to a post on X by Joe Person.
“Canales: If Chuba is good to go, it will be RB by committee (w/ Brooks) in Week 1.”
Wide receiver (6)
Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, Jimmy Horn Jr., Brycen Tremayne, Ja’seem Reed
There are a couple of tough cuts here. But that’s a good sign of a strong receiver room, especially since the Panthers lost a potential star to injury in rookie Chris Brazzell II.
Out are David Moore and John Metchie. The latter particularly hurts because he has NFL ability, for sure. But Reed has earned trust, according to panthers.com.
“He's consistently where I need him to be,” backup quarterback Kenny Pickett said. “We have great conversations on the field, off the field. I have full faith he's going to be where I need him to be, and he just keeps showing up. So there's no surprise.”
Young also had praise for Reed.
“Same thing he's been doing all camp, being consistent, doing a great job of winning, great job of understanding leverage, understanding route timing, and for us, I think someone that we can trust,” Young said. “We feel like that with all of our guys. But when you go out there, and you just see him continue to put it on film … We all trust him in the room, so it's no surprise he's been having the success of that.”
Tight ends (4)
Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, Ja'Tavion Sanders, Feleipe Franks
This is a tough call. The Panthers signed Darren Waller last week. But he’s old and injury-prone. Does he get a roster spot? No, says ESPN.
“The addition of Darren Waller raised eyebrows,” Mike Kaye wrote. “But the lack of interest in him before his signing and his lack of workload before cuts could make him more of a practice-squad option, barring a trade of an incumbent tight end. Waller isn't subject to waivers, so the Panthers can be strategic with the vested veteran's inclusion in and around the cut-down deadline.”
Franks’ special teams value keeps him on board.
Offensive line (8)
Rasheed Walker, Damien Lewis, Luke Fortner, Robert Hunt, Monroe Freeling, Brady Christensen, Sam Hecht, Stone Forsythe
The call between Forsythe and Jake Curhan is razor-thin close. The Panthers could be OK either way. But overall, this line could struggle, according to Pro Football Focus.
“Carolina has quietly built an above-average offensive line in recent seasons,” Bradley Locker wrote. “But injuries and exits have already taken a toll — and are casting real doubt about how strong the unit will be in 2026.
“Ikem Ekwonu is expected to miss the majority of the season after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in the playoffs, while Taylor Moton will be sidelined into the starting slate due to blood clots in his lung.”
The Panthers plugged gaps with Freeling, a first-round pick. But the unit will have three new starters.
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Defensive line (5)
Derrick Brown, Bobby Brown III, Cam Jackson, Lee Hunter, Elijah Garcia
This would leave Aaron Hall out in the cold. However, Garcia has earned a place with a standout camp. The four-year veteran has bounced around to four teams already. And he has experienced very limited game action. Perhaps Garcia only sticks around until Tershawn Wharton gets off the PUP list. But at least he would have a shot.
Outside linebacker/Edge (5)
Jaelan Phillips, Patrick Jones II, Princely Umanmielen, Thomas Incoom, Trevis Gipson
There’s quite a battle for the final spot of this group. It’s between Trevis Gipson, Cam Gill, and Jeremiah Moon. Incoom is safe because of his special teams prowess. Of course, Nic Scourton’s season-ending preseason injury opened up a spot that otherwise wouldn’t have been there.
Inside linebacker (5)
Devin Lloyd, Trevin Wallace, Claudin Cherelus, Bam Martin-Scott, Jackson Kuwatch
There aren’t any current cut candidates. However, the Panthers may tinker with this position.
“The Panthers might be looking for an upgrade opposite Lloyd over the next few days,” Kaye wrote. “Wallace and Cherelus are still competing for the other starting job this summer, and neither option has run away with the gig. Martin-Scott is a promising 2025 holdover who has been a productive special teams player. Kuwatch, the team's 2026 seventh-round pick, is a long-term development keeper.”
Cornerback (5)
Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, Chau Smith-Wade, Will Lee III, Akayleb Evans
The Panthers are rock solid in the starting lineup with Horn and Jackson. Wade and Lee are fine. But is it Evans, or is Corey Thornton the final puzzle piece? Evans’ quality play on special teams gives him a leg up here.
Safety (5)
Tre’von Moehrig, Nick Scott, Lathan Ransom, Zakee Wheatley, Isaiah Simmons
Simmons recently expressed his excitement to have another shot with the Panthers, according to pantherswire.com. And it looks like he will make it back through the narrow window this year.
“I always say I like who likes me, so it just feels good,” Simmons said of playing for the Panthers after a five-game stint last year. “It feels like home here, besides all the Clemson love I get around here. I get a lot of love from everyone here and support from everybody on the staff, everybody in the building, everybody on the team. It just feels good.”
Special teams (3)
K — Ryan Fitzgerald, P — Sam Martin, LS — JJ Jansen
No need to linger here. The Panthers have their trio, and it’s a pretty solid group. No guesswork.