New Head Coach Dave Canales comes to Carolina with a tremendous resume. He did wonders with Kenneth Walker in Seattle as well as with Rachaad White in Tampa Bay. If he can figure out how to help Bryce Young, the Panthers offense might be a fun team to watch in the coming years.
It feels unfair to judge Young based on what he did last season. The offensive line didn’t block for him, they didn’t have great receivers around him, and he just looked overmatched. Canales will put Young in the best position to succeed by giving him throws that he knows he can make to build his confidence. I think it’s important to give Young at least another two seasons before we label him a bust.
Brooks was an outstanding running back at the University of Texas who was well on his way to competing for the Heisman Trophy before getting injured toward the end of last season. Carolina drafted him specifically to be the guy who can get 20 to 25 touches per game. It may take Brooks a few weeks to ramp up, considering he had a horrific injury last year, but the expectation is that he should be able to play in 2024, and I think he’ll be a great guy to have toward the second half of the season.
Until Brooks is ready to be the starter, look for Hubbard to have the most opportunities. He’s not a sexy name but he is a productive player in what should be a much-improved offense.
Carolina traded for Johnson, giving them a true #1 receiver for their young quarterback. Johnson has always shown himself to be a supreme route runner; however, his biggest problem is his inability to stay healthy. He is a target machine who should be Young’s first look, and it will be exciting to see them grow together in the coming seasons.
Thielen was exceptional as a target monster at the beginning of last season. But right now, even though Thielen is a WR2 on Carolina, he’s probably no more than a WR5 in fantasy football. Be careful not to look at last year’s stats and think that you’re going to get the same Adam Thielen.
Legette is a young, raw receiver who showed a lot of upside at the University of South Carolina. Canales loves to run the ball and set up some deep throws downfield, and it’ll be interesting to see whether Legette can figure out the route tree early enough to get opportunities. If you can get him in the last couple of rounds, he is an outstanding stash and cash guy in high stakes.
Sanders is another player who flashed at the University of Texas, showing a lot of speed and size at tight end. The incumbent tight end for Carolina is Tommy Tremble, who could lose the job if he doesn’t play well in the preseason.
I’m buying into the Carolina Panthers’ future. Canales is a terrific young head coach with a bright upside. The Panthers know that for them to be competitive, they’re going to need Bryce Young to lead them to victories. This feels like a season where the Panthers may only win five or six games, but if they stay competitive throughout, then their fans will be happy.
