ClutchPoints
The Carolina Panthers released their unofficial 2025 depth chart ahead of their first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns on Friday. As expected, the list included a few established veterans with young prospects hot on their tails, namely slot receiver Adam Thielen and edge-rusher Patrick Jones II.
The Panthers’ 2024 season was a complete tale of two halves, starting the season as poorly as possible but ending on a high note. They ended with a mere 5-12 record and missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year, but gave fans a reason to be excited for the future.
With the way his team ended the year, general manager Dan Morgan opted to give his current roster another chance. Thus, the Panthers return 19 starters, including all 11 on offense.
However, the team still made a few notable roster changes. Carolina is already anticipating the debut of rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan, whom the team believes in as a future star and potential long-term outlet for Bryce Young. They also added ex-Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle and former Pro Bowl receiver Hunter Renfrow.
Morgan put even more effort into his defense in free agency. The Panthers’ biggest signing came in the form of former Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton, whom Morgan inked to a three-year, $54 million deal. Carolina also added veterans Bobby Brown III, Christian Rozeboom, Tre’von Moehrig and Jones.
While most of their starters return, the Panthers still have a few notable positional battles worth monitoring on the depth chart as the 2025 season approaches. Given the weight the upcoming season holds, head coach Dave Canales will have a lot to ponder during the final few weeks of the offseason.
The Panthers entered the 2025 offseason with the same priority they had a year ago: building their middling receiving corps. Their answer in 2024 was trading for Diontae Johnson, a move that quickly backfired. One year later, they have seemingly done a better job by adding rookies Tetairoa McMillan, Jimmy Horn Jr. and Jacolby George, in addition to signing the veteran Hunter Renfrow.
As beneficial as the offseason has been for the team, it puts Adam Thielen in a precarious position. In a perfect world, McMillan would take over as Young’s No. 1 target with Thielen serving as his ideal complement, while 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette takes the next step. The logic is solid, but Carolina’s addition of Renfrow complicates Thielen’s role.
The Panthers never intended for Thielen to be Young’s top target, but the veteran slot receiver has led the team in receiving yards the last two seasons. Although somewhat by default, the move has revived his career as he developed valuable chemistry with Young. However, ahead of his third season with the team, Thielen could find himself quickly falling down the depth chart.
Thielen is almost exclusively a slot receiver, taking 73 percent of his snaps in 2024 from the position. He has maintained that role thus far in Carolina,...
