Projecting the Panthers' Offensive Roster

[MHS831]

I am trying to keep up with what the Panthers might do--and with so many injuries on offense, this has been difficult to gauge.  The chart below and the descriptions tell the story so that you can share your opinions--it helps to hear from others.  So this is where my thinking is a week from cutdown day--

Offense (25 Active Roster Spots)  PURPLE shaded box indicates players in danger of being cut/waived, possibly being placed on the Practice Squad. Names in Italics are not part of roster–competing for a spot.  RED–draft Picks; BLUE-Undrafted Free Agents; GREEN–free agents. 

 

Left Tackle	Left Guard	Center	Right Guard	Right Tackle
Ickey Ekwonu	Damien Lewis	Austin Corbett	Robert Hunt	Taylor Moton
Yosh Nijman	Chandler Zavala	Andrew Raym	Jack Anderson	B  Christensen
Wide Receiver	Running Back	Quarterback	Tight End
Diontae Johnson	Jonathan Brooks	Bryce Young	Ja’Tavion Sanders
Xavier Leggette	Chuba Hubbard	Andy Dalton	Tommy Tremble
Adam Thielen	Miles Sanders	Waived QB	Ian Thomas
Jonathan Mingo	Dillion Johnson		Jordan Matthews
T Marshall Jr
I Smith-Marsette
D. Moore
Jalen Coker

 

Offensive Commentary:  At the moment, several players would not be active, so this list is fluid.  This list is to assume all are healthy, so some players I have earmarked for the Practice Squad or being cut might appear on the opening day active roster.  As I consider how this list may play out (there are 29 name on this list–I may have missed a prospect—but if so, we need to put 4 on the PS (again, assuming all are healthy day 1).  

Offensive Line:  Some of this is being hopeful, but if Zavala and Anderson continue to step up in a big way, we could be solid at G for several years.  About Zavala sucking last year–did we change the offense 3 times?  Wonder if that was confusing for the OL?  Anderson played a lot Saturday and earned a 90 PFF score.  I watched the replay telecast–he was very good.  Raym was better, but if BC continues to work at C, Raym could be stashed on the PS.  

Tight End:  As much as I want Jordan Matthews to make the team, but cutting Thomas gives the Panthers zero cap room and over $3m in dead cap.  Still, Matthews’ work ethic is a great example.  Sanders and Tremble are probably safe.  I do not see carrying 4 TEs. 

Wide Receiver: Most teams carry 5 or 6 on the active roster. Johnson, Thielen, Legette, and Mingo are safe.  Based on the fact that Marshall Jr. took the pads off in the second half Saturday while the others played, I sense that he may have secured a roster spot.  He had a great practice vs. the Jets and he caught 2 balls Saturday.  I see Coker going to the PS at this point, grooming him for next year when 3 of the top 5 WRs could be gone (Johnson, Thielen, TMJ).  That leaves the sixth roster spot for Smith-Marsette or Moore–for now.  Watch the waiver wire next week, especially if a KR/PR emerges

. Running Back: With Brooks healing for several weeks, I see the future backfield of Brooks, Hubbard, and….Dillon Johnson? Miles Sanders will be active during week 1, but he will probably be on the trading or cut block soon. Blackshear to the PS again this year.

Quarterback:  Bryce is a lock.  However, here is an interesting conspiracy theory. I have predicted that Zappe will be cut by New England. He is on a rookie contract through 2025,  He has starting experience and played on a bad team.  Dalton (37) is gone after this year. Cutting him saves $2m–signing Dalton costs under $1m.  If Bryce does not do well in 2024, do you want three new QBs in 2025?  Keeping Dalton is probably what we do, but if we take Zappe, we probably keep 3 on the active roster if we do not cut Dalton.  I don’t see anyone on the current roster serving as QB3.  Other QBs such as Thompson-Robinson from Cleveland is possible, of course.

 Prediction: Since we know that Brooks is out for some time, three names need to be cut/waived from this roster if everyone else is healthy. I have no confidence predicting the sixth WR spot, assuming we keep 6.  I am going to suggest that David Moore is cut. Coker  is waived and put on the PS.  Smith-Marsette currently holds the sixth WR spot, but I think they scan the waiver wire next week.  I also (and I hate this) predict that Jordan Matthews is cut,but they could release Sanders and take the dead cap hit when Brooks is ready to play.

[PleaseCutStewart]

Probably will be 9 OL, 6 WR, 3 RB (4 with Brooks on IR), 3 QBs, and 4 TEs (with Tremble also being able to fill in as FB). Could go 4 RB (5 with Brooks on IR) and 3 TEs also

[t96]

Honestly on paper aside from Bryce this just is not a bad offense if healthy. Only glaring weakness outside of QB is TE, although I do really like Sanders -- just not expecting a ton from him as a rookie. It's on Bryce and coaching if we aren't a top 16 offense this year, because the rest of the pieces are good enough to be average or better.

 

[ProcessBlue2]

[Xtreme]

@ProcessBlue2You think stashing J. Anderson on the PS is a smart move? Seems like the guy is doing work and solid o-linemen are hard to come by. Could be risky since he could be snatched up at any time if he doesn't get picked up before even making it to the PS. 

[kungfoodude]

I would not be stunned to see Thomas finally cut. 

[kungfoodude]

9 minutes ago, Xtreme said:

@ProcessBlue2You think stashing J. Anderson on the PS is a smart move? Seems like the guy is doing work and solid o-linemen are hard to come by. Could be risky since he could be snatched up at any time if he doesn't get picked up before even making it to the PS. 

I don't think getting someone of his caliber is going to be very difficult at all. There are ample amounts available currently, just not as cheap as he is.

[Seltzer]

Everything I've read from the beat writers indicates we're going to keep 4 TEs.

I think Thomas, Tremble, Sanders, & Matthew's are making the roster.

Based on his history, Canales is going to run a lot of 2 TE formations.

Also, I think with the current practice squad elevation rules it will make it a lot easier to keep only 5 WRs and elevate someone if neccesary.

IMO it will be Johnson, Legette, Theilen, Mingo, and TMJ.

I could see them keeping ISM or David Moore as the 6th WR and returner, but I also could see them using that spot with someone like D'Shawn Jamison (29) who is a backup CB to keep more guys at CB.

Great analysis OP. I'm cautiously optimistic this offense is going to surprise some people 

[45catfan]

1 hour ago, kungfoodude said:

I would not be stunned to see Thomas finally cut. 

It won't happen.   I wouldn't be stunned if they extend him again.

[Seltzer]

1 minute ago, 45catfan said:

It won't happen.   I wouldn't be stunned if they extend him again.

I doubt there's an extension.  But I also think he's a lock to make the team.

Canales is probably going to run a lot of 2 TE sets, and although we all know he sucks for the most part as a receiver, he is an above average blocker and I think a lot of people will be surprised by how many reps he gets this year of he's healthy

[Seltzer]

One caveat to all the roster talk is that with the Panthers having the number 1 priority for waiver claims through Week 4, there probably will be a good amount of churn among the final roster spots even into the season.

I think the roster will be even more fluid than most years especially over the next 6 weeks

Edited August 19 by Seltzer

[45catfan]

Just now, Seltzer said:

I doubt there's an extension.  But I also think he's a lock to make the team.

Canales is probably going to run a lot of 2 TE sets, and although we all know he sucks for the most part as a receiver, he is an above average blocker and I think a lot of people will be surprised by how many reps he gets this year of he's healthy

It was a joke.  He should have never been extended last time.  Blocking TEs are not that hard to find.

[Evil Hurney]

52 minutes ago, Seltzer said:

One caveat to all the roster talk is that with the Panthers having the number 1 priority for waiver claims through Week 4, there probably will be a good amount of churn among the final roster spots even into the season.

I think the roster will be even more fluid than most years especially over the next 6 weeks

They've been churning after preseason games. I expect that to continue for at least the first week or two of the regular season.

[TheSpecialJuan]

I'm thinking DiCaprio Poodle makes the 53