Panthers’ 53-man roster projection: How many RBs and WRs will Carolina keep after camp?

Mike Kaye

July 20, 2023 at 6:00 a.m.·9 min read

Several notable Panthers players will enter next week’s training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., with their statuses squarely on the roster bubble.

Through a grueling set of 12 practices, including a pair of joint workouts with the New York Jets, and a trio of preseason games, the Panthers will evaluate their 90-man roster and decide who will be part of Frank Reich’s first season as head coach in Carolina.

With the first practice less than a week away, The Observer has projected the 53-man roster more than a month before the cut-down deadline (Aug. 29).

Here is our pre-training camp 53-man roster projection:

Quarterback (3)

Who’s in: Bryce Young, Andy Dalton, Matt Corral

Who’s out: N/A

Young and Dalton are locks to make the roster. And unless the Panthers can get a worthwhile trade return for Corral, there’s basically no reason to go light at the most important position in sports.

Corral should receive a heavy workload during the preseason so the Panthers can showcase his worth to potential buyers. But with the new third quarterback rule in place, keeping last year’s third-round pick makes a ton of sense, especially given Young’s smaller frame and inexperience.

Running back (3)

Who’s in: Miles Sanders, Chuba Hubbard, Raheem Blackshear

Who’s out: Spencer Brown, Camerun Peoples, Tiyon Evans

The Panthers raved about Sanders throughout the spring, and he will lead the backfield this season. But Reich, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown and running backs coach Duce Staley have all leaned on running back rotations in the past, and Sanders is likely to share the workload with a teammate or two this season.

Hubbard showed up to the offseason program in tremendous shape. He also ran very well during organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. Blackshear has also received praise from Reich and was used regularly during the offseason program workouts in front of the media.

The real question for the backfield is: Will the Panthers keep four running backs? Brown ran well during OTAs, and he fits the bigger-back mold that isn’t really represented by Sanders, Hubbard and Blackshear. Peoples could be dark horse as well.

Wide receiver (6)

Who’s in: Adam Thielen, Terrace Marshall, DJ Chark, Jonathan Mingo, Laviska Shenault, Damiere Byrd

Who’s out: Shi Smith, Derek Wright, Gary Jennings, C.J. Saunders, Marquez Stevenson, Josh Vann

Thielen, Marshall, Chark and Mingo are all locked into the roster.

Thielen is expected to be a primary target in the passing game at the Z and slot positions, while Chark will provide veteran experience as an outside target. Marshall and Mingo, this year’s second-round pick, are likely to battle for playing time at the X position this summer. The winner of that battle will probably be on the field with Thielen in 12 personnel groupings.

From there, the field appears to be wide open for the fifth and sixth receiver spots. Shenault was brought up by Reich and general manager Scott Fitterer regularly during the offseason, and he appears to have an edge on the roster bubble. If Shenault can prove to be a moveable chess piece for Reich and Brown, he should factor into their 53-man roster plans fairly early in the summer.

The final spot will come down to special teams value, and the Panthers brought in Byrd to be a primary returner this offseason. While Smith and Stevenson could provide some drama and competition at the returner spot, Byrd offers more on offense than the young pair. Derek Wright, who was a standout early in the offseason program, is the dark horse at the position.

Tight end (4)

Who’s in: Hayden Hurst, Ian Thomas, Tommy Tremble, Giovanni Ricci

Who’s out: Stephen Sullivan

Hurst was signed in free agency to lead the tight end group this season. The former first-round pick has ideal traits for the Y position, and he should be targeted regularly by Young during his rookie campaign.

Thomas took a pay cut to return to Carolina, and he should be the primary blocking tight end in 12 personnel packages. Tremble, who has been openly enthusiastic about the new staff, figures to be the primary backup for both Hurst and Thomas on the depth chart.

Ricci and Sullivan are competing to force the Panthers to keep four tight ends. Ricci is a core-four special teams player, so he gets the nod here over a fourth running back or Sullivan.

Offensive line (8)

Who’s in: Ikem Ekwonu (LT), Brady Christensen (LG), Bradley Bozeman (C), Cade Mays (RG), Taylor Moton (RT), Chandler Zavala, Justin McCray, Cam Erving

Who’s out: Michael Jordan, Sam Tecklenburg, Deonte Brown, Larnel Coleman, J. D. Direnzo, Nash Jensen, Ricky Lee, B.J. Wilson

PUP: Austin Corbett (ACL)

Reich has already confirmed that Corbett will begin the summer on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. The head coach has also said that Corbett will miss regular-season action. With those context clues, it’s fair to conclude that Corbett will begin the season on the PUP list and miss (at least) the first four games of the season.

Even with Corbett sidelined, the Panthers can afford to go light on the offensive line depth chart entering Week 1. The NFL lets teams promote an offensive lineman from the practice squad every week, so there’s little reason to hold onto a ninth or 10th lineman — unless someone blows them away during camp — following final cuts.

Ekwonu, Bozeman and Moton are locked into their starting jobs at left tackle, center and right tackle, respectively. Christensen could face some heat from Zavala, this year’s fourth-round pick, at left guard. Mays will get first crack at replacing Corbett — temporarily — at right guard. Erving is currently set up as the swing tackle, while McCray, a longtime James Campen pupil, is likely to back up Bozeman at center.

Defensive line (6)

Who’s in: Derrick Brown, Shy Tuttle, DeShawn Williams, Henry Anderson, Marquan McCall, Taylor Stallworth

Who’s out: John Penisini, Bravvion Roy, Jalen Dalton, Antwuan Jackson, Jalen Redmond, Raequan Williams

Brown and Tuttle will start at two of the three defensive line positions this season. Tuttle, a free-agent addition, has the versatility to play all three spots, and he will probably be moved around often within the trenches under new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

The third starting spot is up for grabs this summer. DeShawn Williams, who followed Evero from Denver this offseason, is the favorite to land that third job.

Anderson and Stallworth are veteran players who have experience in multiple fronts, which should help them in their quests for roster spots. McCall, a Matt Rhule holdover, has ideal size for the nose tackle position, and he has earned praise for his work this spring.

Inside linebacker (5)

Who’s in: Shaq Thompson, Frankie Luvu, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Brandon Smith, Chandler Wooten

Who’s out: Bumper Pool, Ace Eley

Thompson has looked like a re-energized player under the new coaching staff. After taking a monster pay cut in March, Thompson flashed his talent throughout the workouts during the offseason program. Similarly, Luvu — last year’s biggest defensive surprise — excelled during OTAs and mandatory minicamp.

With Thompson and Luvu leading the pack, the Panthers need to figure out their depth at inside linebacker. Grugier-Hill has plenty of starting experience at inside linebacker, and he is a longtime special teams standout as well. Grugier-Hill, who won a Super Bowl with Reich in Philadelphia, is the favorite for the third spot on the depth chart.

Smith wasn’t particularly impressive during the offseason program, but he is just one year removed from being selected in the fourth round. Smith’s athletic prowess should at least help him excel on special teams. Wooten, a fellow second-year player, has positional flexibility in a 3-4 front, and he has special teams upside as well.

Outside linebacker (4)

Who’s in: Brian Burns, Marquis Haynes, Yetur Gross-Matos, D.J. Johnson

Who’s out: Amare Barno, Arron Mosby, Kobe Jones, Jordan Thomas, Eku Leota

As the Panthers move to a 3-4 front, their lack of proven pass rusher depth is alarming. Outside of Burns, an ascending talent who has already been to two Pro Bowls, the group is made up of a bunch of part-time pass rushers and question marks entering training camp.

Haynes was a standout during the offseason program, but his highlights were produced without pads. A longtime rotational pass rusher, Haynes has yet to prove that he can stop the run, which has been a subject of emphasis under the new staff.

Gross-Matos, a former second-round pick, is an awkward fit for the odd front. However, he has earned praise from the coaching staff because of his attitude and work ethic.

Johnson, the team’s third-round pick, is also a project. While he had a strong final year at Oregon, Johnson only played a full-time starting edge role for one campaign with the Ducks. A former tight end, Johnson is still learning how to play the position, along with transitioning to the NFL. While the staff sang his praises in the spring, the anticipation for Johnson’s early returns should be measured entering his rookie year.

With Luvu likely to rotate into the edge rotation this year, the Panthers can go light at the position if no one else steps up beyond the top four guys. While fans are longing for another veteran name to be added to the depth chart, the pass rusher market continues to dwindle.

Defensive back (11)

Who’s in: Jaycee Horn, Donte Jackson, Vonn Bell, Xavier Woods, C.J. Henderson, Jeremy Chinn, Jammie Robinson, Stantley Thomas-Oliver, Sam Franklin, Eric Rowe, Rejzohn Wright

Who’s out: Herb Miller, Mark Milton, Colby Richardson, Keith Taylor, Greg Mabin, Josh Thomas

Horn and Jackson are coming off injuries that sidelined them during the offseason program. While Henderson will be the primary backup for both players, the cornerback group needs additional insurance beyond the inconsistent former first-round pick.

Chinn will man the big nickel spot for the defense under the new staff. Following a subpar season in 2022, Chinn looked fluid and focused during his reps in OTAs and mandatory minicamp. This is a massive season for Chinn, and he looks like a new man under the new regime in Carolina.

Woods and Bell will lead a deep safety group this year. Franklin and Rowe will provide veteran insurance and versatility behind the starting duo. Robinson, the team’s fifth-round pick in April, will look to carve out roles on defense and special teams.

Thomas-Oliver was praised for his versatility during the offseason program. Known more for his special teams prowess, Thomas-Oliver could have a shot at the backup nickel role this year. Wright, the only undrafted rookie to make this 53-man roster projection, has ideal size for the outside cornerback position.

Special teams (3)

Who’s in: JJ Jansen (LS), Johnny Hekker (P), Eddy Piñeiro (K)