PFF: 2023 Projections

[NAS]

 

CAROLINA PANTHERS
Biggest strength in 2023: Defensive Front

Carolina’s defensive front made some improvements in 2022, led by a breakout season from Derrick Brown. Brown’s 84.4 overall grade was a 20-point improvement from 2021. An increase in his sack total (one in 2022) would make him a legitimate star. Frankie Luvu and Shaq Thompson also played well, posting elite 90.0-plus run-defense grades for the season. Brian Burns was the star pass rusher, tallying 13 sacks.

Biggest weakness in 2023: Passing and Stopping the Pass

The Panthers ranked 27th in passing grade as a team and 28th in coverage. The combination of Baker Mayfield, P.J. Walker and Sam Darnold gave them very little consistency and forced them to make the bold move of trading up in the draft for Bryce Young. On the defensive side, Jaycee Horn is a solid player, but he was their only defender to play at least 100 coverage snaps and carry a 68.0-plus coverage grade.

X-Factor for 2023: LT Ikem Ekwonu

Ekwonu had a solid rookie season, posting a 65.3 overall grade while leading the team in snaps played. His 13 penalties were tied for third most among all offensive linemen, so he still has plenty of things to work on. Ekwonu has massive potential, though, and his emergence as a franchise left tackle will quell concerns about Bryce Young’s ability to maneuver the pocket with his small stature.

Rookie to watch: QB Bryce Young

All eyes are on the first overall pick. His accuracy and instincts are elite. He just has to prove his size isn’t an issue as it pertains to durability. A decent offensive line that ranked 10th in pass-blocking grade helps his cause. The Panthers don't boast a top-flight receiving option after sending D.J. Moore to Chicago for Young, but they do have a number of decent options in D.J. Chark Jr., Adam Thielen, Terrace Marshall Jr. and second-rounder Jonathan Mingo. That’s enough for Young to make Carolina reasonably competitive this season.

Over/Under 7.5 win total: Over

Much like the rest of the division, this pick will be really tight. Carolina has useful pieces across its roster. Frank Reich was the right hire. The Panthers also have a soft schedule and won seven games last year with Baker Mayfield, P.J. Walker and Sam Darnold under center. It’s all about Bryce Young in 2023. They’ll need some breaks, but if Young plays like a top-20 passer, Carolina could be a surprise division winner.

Projected 2023 starting lineup

 

OFFENSE	DEFENSE
QB Bryce Young (91.5*)	DI Derrick Brown (84.4)
RB Miles Sanders (71.1)	DI Shy Tuttle (60.3)
RB Chuba Hubbard (76.6)	Edge Brian Burns (64.5)
WR D.J. Chark Jr. (69.6)	Edge Marquis Haynes(59.3)
WR Adam Thielen (65.5)	Edge Yetur Gross-Matos(51.2)
WR Terrace Marshall Jr.(67.7)	LB Frankie Luvu (74.8)
TE Hayden Hurst (64.5)	LB Shaq Thompson (72.3)
LT Ikem Ekwonu (65.3)	CB Jaycee Horn (71.4)
LG Brady Christensen(57.3)	CB Donte Jackson (55.0)
C Bradley Bozeman (63.1)	CB C.J. Henderson (52.9)
RG Austin Corbett (69.1)	S Vonn Bell (69.3)
RT Taylor Moton (69.3)	S Xavier Woods (63.5)

*2022 NCAA grade; **2021 NFL grade; ***2021 NCAA grade

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2023-roster-rankings-strengths-weaknesses-x-factors-rookies-to-watch

 

[joemac]

Sounds about right to me.  We actually have a really solid roster top to bottom.  Since we (hopefully) have locked up the QB position, there are not a lot of other glaring holes.  We need a true WR1, which Chark could become if healthy, also TMJ has shown flashes of being a really really good player.  Most WR's light comes on in season 3, if it ever does come on, so he could have a big year. Still need some help at Edge, Defensive Line and Interior LB though.

[Louie]

It looks like the only week spot on the offensive line was LG Brady Christensen . I wonder if that's one reason they signed Icky's friend Zavala? 

[CanadianCat]

The write up about Tremble the other day has me excited. I think this coaching staff will know how to design plays to protect Young and get the most out of him.

Im not overly worried out out defence so long as we move the chains on offense. 

[poundaway]

Jackson didn't look great last year.   Henderson looked worse.  We should have kept Gilmore.  Horn can't stay healthy.  CB is not the strength some around here think it is.

[Jesse]

We still need a stud WR1 and pass rusher and we’ll be solid. 

[ladypanther]

1 minute ago, CanadianCat said:

Im not overly worried out out defence so long as we move the chains on offense

Yea, the biggest problem the D had was having to be on the field so much.

[LinvilleGorge]

16 minutes ago, poundaway said:

Jackson didn't look great last year.   Henderson looked worse.  We should have kept Gilmore.  Horn can't stay healthy.  CB is not the strength some around here think it is.

Who thinks CB is a strength? I think most Panthers fans realize that outside of Horn CB is a problem sport for us, especially with Jackson coming off of a torn Achilles.

[Carolina Cajun]

so....Does Jeremy Chinn not exist?

[ladypanther]

6 minutes ago, Carolina Cajun said:

so....Does Jeremy Chinn not exist?

Evero seems to like him.

– Evero declined to veer into specifics on how they'll utilize Jeremy Chinn in the new defense. Chinn's a safety with the ability to play closer to the line of scrimmage and act like a linebacker. Evero said he wanted to prioritize playing time for Chinn as a player who can "do a lot of different things."

"We think very highly of him," Evero said. "I think he's a heck of a player. He's a weapon that we're definitely going to try to utilize. And I know he's an asset for us to have."

https://www.panthers.com/news/ejiro-evero-has-seen-great-improvement-in-early-offseason-program

[TheSpecialJuan]

2 hours ago, NAS said:

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Biggest strength in 2023: Defensive Front

Carolina’s defensive front made some improvements in 2022, led by a breakout season from Derrick Brown. Brown’s 84.4 overall grade was a 20-point improvement from 2021. An increase in his sack total (one in 2022) would make him a legitimate star. Frankie Luvu and Shaq Thompson also played well, posting elite 90.0-plus run-defense grades for the season. Brian Burns was the star pass rusher, tallying 13 sacks.

Biggest weakness in 2023: Passing and Stopping the Pass

The Panthers ranked 27th in passing grade as a team and 28th in coverage. The combination of Baker Mayfield, P.J. Walker and Sam Darnold gave them very little consistency and forced them to make the bold move of trading up in the draft for Bryce Young. On the defensive side, Jaycee Horn is a solid player, but he was their only defender to play at least 100 coverage snaps and carry a 68.0-plus coverage grade.

X-Factor for 2023: LT Ikem Ekwonu

Ekwonu had a solid rookie season, posting a 65.3 overall grade while leading the team in snaps played. His 13 penalties were tied for third most among all offensive linemen, so he still has plenty of things to work on. Ekwonu has massive potential, though, and his emergence as a franchise left tackle will quell concerns about Bryce Young’s ability to maneuver the pocket with his small stature.

Rookie to watch: QB Bryce Young

All eyes are on the first overall pick. His accuracy and instincts are elite. He just has to prove his size isn’t an issue as it pertains to durability. A decent offensive line that ranked 10th in pass-blocking grade helps his cause. The Panthers don't boast a top-flight receiving option after sending D.J. Moore to Chicago for Young, but they do have a number of decent options in D.J. Chark Jr., Adam Thielen, Terrace Marshall Jr. and second-rounder Jonathan Mingo. That’s enough for Young to make Carolina reasonably competitive this season.

Over/Under 7.5 win total: Over

Much like the rest of the division, this pick will be really tight. Carolina has useful pieces across its roster. Frank Reich was the right hire. The Panthers also have a soft schedule and won seven games last year with Baker Mayfield, P.J. Walker and Sam Darnold under center. It’s all about Bryce Young in 2023. They’ll need some breaks, but if Young plays like a top-20 passer, Carolina could be a surprise division winner.

Projected 2023 starting lineup

OFFENSE	DEFENSE
QB Bryce Young (91.5*)	DI Derrick Brown (84.4)
RB Miles Sanders (71.1)	DI Shy Tuttle (60.3)
RB Chuba Hubbard (76.6)	Edge Brian Burns (64.5)
WR D.J. Chark Jr. (69.6)	Edge Marquis Haynes(59.3)
WR Adam Thielen (65.5)	Edge Yetur Gross-Matos(51.2)
WR Terrace Marshall Jr.(67.7)	LB Frankie Luvu (74.8)
TE Hayden Hurst (64.5)	LB Shaq Thompson (72.3)
LT Ikem Ekwonu (65.3)	CB Jaycee Horn (71.4)
LG Brady Christensen(57.3)	CB Donte Jackson (55.0)
C Bradley Bozeman (63.1)	CB C.J. Henderson (52.9)
RG Austin Corbett (69.1)	S Vonn Bell (69.3)
RT Taylor Moton (69.3)	S Xavier Woods (63.5)

*2022 NCAA grade; **2021 NFL grade; ***2021 NCAA grade

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2023-roster-rankings-strengths-weaknesses-x-factors-rookies-to-watch

 

solid 

[Carolina Cajun]

13 minutes ago, ladypanther said:

Evero seems to like him.

– Evero declined to veer into specifics on how they'll utilize Jeremy Chinn in the new defense. Chinn's a safety with the ability to play closer to the line of scrimmage and act like a linebacker. Evero said he wanted to prioritize playing time for Chinn as a player who can "do a lot of different things."

"We think very highly of him," Evero said. "I think he's a heck of a player. He's a weapon that we're definitely going to try to utilize. And I know he's an asset for us to have."

https://www.panthers.com/news/ejiro-evero-has-seen-great-improvement-in-early-offseason-program

Oh I know and I agree, I just think its absurd for the starting lineup from the article to not have him in it.  I mean he has guys like Gross Matos and CJ Henderson who barring injury will not be on the field as much as Chinn will be this upcoming season.

Edited May 16, 2023 by Carolina Cajun

[LinvilleGorge]

Saying things like "prioritizing playing time" throws up red flags for me. You don't "prioritize playing time" for your starters.

[NAS]

12 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Saying things like "prioritizing playing time" throws up red flags for me. You don't "prioritize playing time" for your starters.

Well even starters don’t get 100% of the snaps depending on formation. I think this means he will be utilized more in different packages.