The Carolina Panthers do not want a repeat of their 2023 season. Carolina floundered after making a big trade to acquire the 1st overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which they used on QB Bryce Young. The Panthers have made some huge changes to their team this offseason to help improve their standing in 2024.
Carolina put a clear emphasis on reinforcing their offensive line and adding weapons for Bryce Young.
It all started in free agency. Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis both signed lucrative, long-term contracts with the Panthers to shore up the interior of the offensive line. They signed RB Rashaad Penny and David Moore for depth before putting some attention on defense. Jadeveon Clowney, D.J. Wonnum, and K’Lavon Chaisson are the new edge rotation in Carolina. The Panthers also added several bodies to the secondary and inked DT Derrick Brown to a long-term deal.
The Panthers aggressively added offensive talent in the 2024 NFL Draft. They traded up into the first round to select wide receiver Xavier Legette as their presumed WR1 of the future. Carolina also added a new starting running back in Jonathon Brooks and an intriguing tight end prospect in Ja’Tavion Sanders. The Panthers suddenly have plenty of weapons to choose from.
Despite all of these improvements, the Panthers are no sure thing to succeed in 2024. The team faces a brutal schedule and has a multitude of question marks surrounding their young players. They also have a new head coach in Dave Canales who needs to establish a culture and install new schemes ASAP.
Below, we’ll explore a couple of the scariest pitfalls that could torpedo the Panthers’ season.
Bryce Young needs to get out to a hot start
If the Panthers want to have any chance of competing in 2024, then they need to start stacking wins are early as possible. They play in a competitive division that could be much improved thanks to the entry of Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. to the Falcons.
Thankfully, Carolina has a few opportunities in their first several weeks to take advantage of teams who have gone through some massive transitions during this offseason.
The Saints are a beatable division foe in Week 1. Carolina follows them up with games against the Los Angeles Chargers (new head coach, scheme) and Las Vegas Raiders (what do they look like in their first full season under Antonio Pierce?). They also face the Chicago Bears and Caleb Williams in Week 5, who could still be figuring things out in his rookie campaign. The same can be said for a Week 8 contest against the Denver Broncos with Bo Nix.
All of that being said, their opponents could make the same critiques about the Panthers.
Bryce Young has flashed potential but has not proven to be a legit franchise QB. There is no guarantee that he excels in 2024, if at all. The Panthers have reasons to hope with new head coach Dave Canales, but he is unproven as the primary leader of a team.
Carolina will need to turn some of their question marks into sure-fire advantages if they want to starting regularly winning games.
Carolina faces a brutal closing stretch after Week 11 bye
If the Panthers don’t get off to a hot start, then their season could be over before Thanksgiving.
Carolina’s bye week comes in Week 11 after a Week 10 trip to Munich to play the New York Giants. The placement at Week 11 on the schedule is actually somewhat favorable, as it gives the team rest before making a late-season push.
However, they face a murderer’s row of opponents down the stretch.
They start by hosting the Kansas City Chiefs and follow that up with two games against the Buccaneers, and one-offs against the Eagles, Cowboys, Cardinals, and Falcons.
There is a reality where the Panthers lose against the Chiefs and Buccaneers coming out of the bye and are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. The NFC may not be as loaded as the AFC, but it will still be highly competitive when it comes to wild card seeding. The Panthers could quickly fall behind if they can’t put together a consistent offense in the early weeks of the season.
Realistically, success for the Panthers in 2024 may just look like progress from Bryce Young and a solid showing from Dave Canales in his first season as a head coach.
Anything else would be icing on the cake.
