Urgency is high across the Carolina Panthers as preparations for the 2024 season gain steam. Dan Morgan’s adopted a ruthless mindset to his roster building after a two-win campaign left nothing but a sour taste in the mouth. Those who aren’t pulling their weight won’t last long under the new regime.
One of the biggest problems during the Matt Rhule and Frank Reich years centered on no clear focus. Everyone was out for themselves and mediocrity was accepted. Sometimes, it was even celebrated. That’s not going to be the case any longer under ambitious head coach Dave Canales.
After another offseason of wholesale changes, those who survived Morgan’s roster cull can feel a sense of confidence that the general manager and Canales believe in their respective abilities. However, taking their foot off the gas is simply not an option as the Panthers strive for better fortunes in 2024.
With this in mind, here are five Panthers players who cannot afford to get complacent in 2024.
Damien Lewis – Carolina Panthers OL
The Carolina Panthers moved swiftly to strengthen their offensive line interior in free agency. Robert Hunt was acquired within hours of the legal tampering period beginning at great expense. Those in power also managed to convince Damien Lewis that this was a project worth being part of.
Lewis has previous experience working with Dave Canales from their time together on the Seattle Seahawks. He’s a brute force against the run and holds his own in pass protection. Coupling him with Hunt gives the Panthers a potentially dominant starting guard tandem that could assist quarterback Bryce Young tremendously.
The Panthers gave Lewis a four-year, $53 million deal that also included a $15 million signing bonus and $26.21 million guaranteed. One doesn’t have to look far around the league for examples of veterans regressing once they secure a bumper payday, so the former third-round pick out of Louisiana State must not fall into the same trap.
Otherwise, the consequences could be severe.
Diontae Johnson – Carolina Panthers WR
It wasn’t just free agency and the draft where the Carolina Panthers strengthened their ranks. Those in power also secured the services of wide receiver Diontae Johnson via trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Something that comes with a significant level of intrigue attached.
Johnson is one of the league’s best route-runners. He knows how to manipulate opposing defensive backs through quick movements and exceptional body control. This was a low-risk, high-reward pickup by the Panthers that cost nothing more than veteran cornerback Donte Jackson and a late-round pick swap. Furthermore, his skill set is exactly what Carolina lacked in the passing game aside from Adam Thielen in 2023.
There are concerns. Johnson’s time in Pittsburgh ended on a disappointing note with rumors of friction between the wideout and his teammates. Mike Tomlin was eager to dispose of the player this offseason, so the motivation to silence his increasing doubters is there for all to see.
Avoiding complacency and being a willing team player is only going to help Johnson. If he remains focused and strives for a return to his old form, a new contract in 2025 won’t be too far behind.
Shaq Thompson – Carolina Panthers LB
There have been very few constants across the Carolina Panthers throughout David Tepper’s ownership. This bares more significance on the playing side, with only J.J. Jansen and Shaq Thompson remaining from their iconic run to the Super Bowl in 2015.
That was a long time ago and it’s been a constant spiral into the abyss since then. Thompson’s eager to get this once-proud organization back to relevancy. Just how much he’ll be able to contribute after coming back from a season-ending injury during the previous campaign is another matter.
Thompson’s worked hard to get back to fitness and looks the part during early workouts. He looks set to start alongside Josey Jewell at the defensive second level interior, but he’ll know better than anybody how much hard work is ahead after how things unfolded during another year to forget in 2023.
The former first-round selection out of Washington is being counted upon heavily once again. Thompson is also the undisputed locker room alpha, so raising standards and ensuring no complacency creeps into the organization will be among his primary objectives next time around.
Bryce Young – Carolina Panthers QB
After a rookie season that descended into chaos, quarterback Bryce Young has no room whatsoever for complacency moving forward. The Carolina Panthers made a huge investment in the quarterback this offseason, spending vast resources on fortifying the offensive line and enhancing the skill positions. Couple this with the appointment of head coach Dave Canales, and it’s not hard to see why hopes for a bounce-back are high.
Young is drawing rave reviews for his work ethic, willingness to learn, and how quickly he’s picking up Canales’ schematic concepts over early workouts. The Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama is off to a promising start, but keeping up this positivity throughout the offseason is paramount in pursuit of hitting the ground running in 2024.
The Panthers placed everything around Young this offseason. They’ve done their part, it’s now up to the signal-caller to repay this faith and prove why he was worthy of being the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
While hopes are high for Young, the jury is still out until we see him in a competitive setting. Anything less than major improvements with an enhanced supporting cast is going to further raise concerns about whether Carolina made the right call from atop last year’s college selection process.
Chuba Hubbard – Carolina Panthers RB
Chuba Hubbard was one of the rare shining lights for the Carolina Panthers last season. He seized the initiative when introduced into the starting lineup once veteran running back Miles Sanders went down through injury. The former fourth-round selection out of Oklahoma State shouldered a heavy burden and went over 1,000 all-purpose yards for the first time in his career.
This was another impressive campaign from Hubbard, continuing his rise to prominence after being all but written off following a rookie campaign that exposed some serious flaws. While this is positive heading into the final year of his deal, the Panthers raised the stakes by trading up to land Jonathon Brooks at No. 46 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Brooks is coming off an ACL tear and might not be 100 percent to start the campaign. The Texas product should get plenty of reps when fully healthy, which makes it vital for Hubbard to start the season well and leave no doubt as to his importance moving forward.
There is plenty of competition for places with Raheem Blackshear and Rashaad Penny also looking to establish themselves under the new regime. Dave Canales plans to run the football heavily, so the options are plentiful if Hubbard cannot make additional strides with the added motivation of a new deal on the horizon.
