Following the end of mandatory minicamp, the Carolina Panthers have entered their version of summer break for the next month. During this time, storylines will be created and debates and discussions will rage.
Lately, there has been discussion about who and what players need to improve their play in 2024. Considering last season’s outcome, that list is quite lengthy.
It was arguably the worst season in franchise history. The Panthers finished a league-worst 2-15 and didn’t even have the No. 1 overall selection to show for it, leading to a decrease in fan morale. The offense was historically bad. Bryce Young endured one of the worst overall situations provided to a rookie quarterback in recent memory.
A decent amount of the offensive pieces from last year are still on the roster. This goes to show how much head coach Dave Canales believes he can fix a unit that seemed to celebrate anytime they even converted a third down attempt.
There is also one starter from the defensive side of the ball that is likely to be under a microscope in 2024, but it is not the player you think.
Without further ado, here are six Panthers players who must improve their play immensely during the 2024 season.
Jonathan Mingo – Carolina Panthers WR
Jonathan Mingo entered his rookie year with expectations that some would deem too much. It’s widely considered that the former Ole Miss playmaker was over-drafted at No. 39 overall. Based on my pre-draft evaluation, he had much more growth needed in his overall game than one would anticipate with a second-round pick and landed on an early fourth-round film grade.
Mingo’s rawness was exploited plenty during the underwhelming 2023 season. The timing between him and Bryce Young never seemed to mesh during the season – see the wild catch attempt versus the Tennessee Titans. His route running, ability to create natural separation, and overall football intelligence needed much improvement. However, that isn’t to say the pass-catcher didn’t flash.
Jaxon Dart’s former top target displayed glimpses of good run-after-catch skills and winning downfield with vertical separation. The fluidity and alignment flexibility is there. It’s up to Mingo to develop that into whatever the Carolina Panthers believe he can be.
The criticism toward Mingo is more than fair. Though, like a couple of other Panthers players from last season’s offense, he deserves a chance at redemption and patience in his overall development.
Chuba Hubbard – Carolina Panthers RB
During a campaign with very few bright spots, running back Chuba Hubbard was one of them. There is an argument to be made that the former Oklahoma State standout was the best player on a bad offense. He totaled more than 1,100 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns while averaging nearly four yards per carry.
Hubbard became the offensive engine once he was handed the keys halfway through the season as former head coach Frank Reich made an effort to get some semblance of competent play. The former fourth-round pick displays adequate vision as a runner and features a north-to-south, one-cut style that could make him a great fit in Dave Canales’ wide zone offense.
The fourth-year player has room to grow. He could offer more flashes of short-area quickness that can make him a better runner after contact or make the first defender miss. Hubbard must also improve his already adequate route-running and willingness to pass protect.
The 2021 fourth-round selection is entering the final year of his rookie contract. There is no guarantee Hubbard will be the starter or on the Carolina Panthers roster next spring as rookie Jonathon Brooks could push for more playing time. Even so, he should be a key piece of the offense heading into the 2024 regular season.
Ikem Ekwonu – Carolina Panthers OT
Ikem Ekwonu was slated as the Carolina Panthers’ long-awaited left tackle of the future. His rookie season showed promise in all facets, though it was average for most NFL standards.
Ekwonu’s run-blocking ability has stood out since he debuted against Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 of 2022. But it takes much more to become elite in the pros.
The former All-American offensive tackle entered 2023 with high expectations to become one of the better players at the position. Instead, the flaws in his pass protection technique were exposed to the maximum.
Ekwonu often crossed his feet in specific pass sets – a big red flag for any offensive lineman. He would lean forward when looking to land strikes, causing him to lose balance and whiff on blocks. The North Carolina State product struggled against opposing speed rushers plenty of times.
The third-year pro was candid during an offseason press conference. Ekwonu admitted to not taking advantage of the resources at his disposal and rode the highs of his rookie campaign. He knows what’s at stake in 2024.
Carolina’s young offensive lineman has plenty of critics. While they’re all valid, it’s also important to remember that progression as a player in this league is never linear.
Could Ekwonu turn in a rock-solid junior season to establish himself as a pillar on the offensive line? That remains to be seen. One way or another, this is a big potential turning point in his career.
Miles Sanders – Carolina Panthers RB
After trading Christian McCaffrey and letting D’Onta Foreman walk in free agency, the Carolina Panthers signed Miles Sanders to be the lead running back of the offense. The three-year, $25.4 million deal with $13 million guaranteed, led to hope that he’d have close to similar production he had during his final season with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Similar to the rest of the 2023 offense, Sanders’ play was significantly underwhelming.
He was an average running back on the field. His play never translated to the success he had with the Eagles, partly because of the consistency and stability along their offensive line along with some of the best run-game designs in the league. Sanders continued to display poor vision with fumble issues and sizeable gaps in pass protection ability.
Every time Sanders was on the field or touched the ball, the offense would go backward. Following the Week 7 bye, the former Penn State standout lost his starting job to Chuba Hubbard. By Week 18, his snap count had decreased dramatically.
Could the former Eagle become a fit in Dave Canales’ run-first offense? Only time will tell for the sixth-year running back.
Shy Tuttle – Carolina Panthers DT
When former general manager Scott Fitterer signed Shy Tuttle to a three-year, $19.5 million contract, he was expected to be a force on the defensive line. It was an underwhelming season for the veteran. It was also another bad contract from Fitterer, who was later fired once the campaign concluded.
A former undrafted free agent from the Tennessee Volunteers, Tuttle was expected to be the Panthers five-technique but was later slated into the nose tackle role. This turned out to be a disappointing move by defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
The run game struggled. The gap integrity in the middle of Carolina’s defensive line was subpar. There were times when Tuttle was physically outmatched in the trenches and pushed to the second level.
With the addition of A’Shawn Robinson, Tuttle must do a better job of displaying extension at the point of attack, especially in the run game where the Panthers’ defense struggled mightily. Furthermore, he must display more power and generate more pressure off the snap since he is likely to be the starting nose tackle this season.
Tuttle must display these improvements in 2024 to complete the run defense overhaul. A better showing will allow him to at least play out his deal. Expect Dan Morgan to take advantage of the potential out in his contract to free up cap space next offseason unless performance levels rise accordingly.
Bryce Young – Carolina Panthers QB
This is one of the biggest no-brainers on this list. Especially after the rookie season that quarterback Bryce Young endured after the Carolina Panthers set the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft up to fail.
It’s important to contextualize Young’s rookie season properly. Everything around him was bad. The overall environment, inconsistent weapons, below-average protection, and play-calling led to the former Heisman Trophy winner’s flaws being plastered in the glaring NFL spotlight.
However, it is fair to point out those flaws had an impact on Young’s bad play in 2023. He does not have elite arm strength. The lack of size causes him to play with an extra hitch that forces defenders to tighten windows in coverage. He also tended to drift out of the pocket too often, which created longer throws and even less margin for error.
Last season showed glimpses of how gifted of a passer both physically and mentally Young is amid all the doom and gloom. He displayed flashes of what he could become in this league with the right supporting cast. The former Alabama star showcased his three-level accuracy, pocket navigation skills, and already elite football intelligence in every game.
It didn’t have the desired effect more often than not, but they were there nonetheless.
With improved weapons at his disposal next time around, Young’s play should see significant improvement. Expectations are growing thanks to the additions of Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette. The acquisitions of offensive linemen Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis are something else working in this signal-caller’s favor.
Should Young’s play improve immensely in 2024, the Panthers and their stakeholders will be significant beneficiaries. This allows the team to move forward with their franchise quarterback no longer in question.
If not, it may be time again to start thinking about being aggressive to at least add extra competition to the room in 2025.
