Pro Football Focus: Panthers draft grade

[TheSpecialJuan]

Carolina Panthers: B

RB Rico Dowdle

• 2024 PFF Grade: 73.9
• 2024 PFF WAR: 0.13
• Contract: 1 year, $3 million
• PFF Projected Contract: 3 years, $15 million ($8.5 million guaranteed)
• PFF Deal Grade: Above Average

Dowdle had a career year with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, earning a 74.4 PFF rushing grade, averaging 3.28 yards after contact per carry and forcing 45 missed tackles. He joins a Panthers backfield that includes Chuba Hubbard, who earned an 87.0 PFF rushing grade a year ago.

P Sam Martin

• 2024 PFF Grade: 67.8
• Contract: 1 year, $3 million
• PFF Projected Contract: N/A
• PFF Deal Grade: Above average

Martin has been a reliable punter, earning a PFF punting grade above 65.0 in each of the past five seasons. He should be an upgrade over Johnny Hekker, who posted PFF punting grades of 60.2 in 2023 and 53.3 in 2024.

C Brady Christensen

• 2024 PFF Grade: 63.6
• 2024 PFF WAR: 0.02
• Contract: 1 year, $2.787 million ($2.787 million guaranteed)
• PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $7.5 million ($4 million guaranteed)
• PFF Deal Grade: Average

A solid depth re-signing for Carolina, Christensen had two games in 2024 where he earned a PFF grade above 75.0. He also brings valuable versatility, having started at both left tackle and center last season and at every position along the offensive line throughout his career.

DI Tershawn Wharton

• 2024 PFF Grade: 61.7
• 2024 PFF WAR: 0.15
• Contract: 3 years, $54 million ($30 million guaranteed)
• PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $16.25 million ($9 million guaranteed)
• PFF Deal Grade: Below Average

Acting as primarily an interior pass-rushing specialist for the Chiefs during their run to the Super Bowl in 2024, Wharton enjoyed a solid year of production, notching nine sacks on his way to capturing a career-best 71.9 PFF pass-rush grade. In his fifth season, Wharton secured his first-ever double-digit pass-rush win rate (10.5%). However, one year of production makes this significant contract a bit of a risk. 

DI Bobby Brown III

• 2024 PFF Grade: 61.4
• 2024 PFF WAR: 0.05
• Contract: 3 years, $21 million
• PFF Projected Contract: N/A
• PFF Deal Grade: Average

A fourth-round draft pick back in 2021, Brown has earned a PFF overall grade above 60.0 in all four of his NFL seasons. This is a modest deal, and he will form part of the Panthers' revamped interior defensive line rotation.

EDGE Patrick Jones II

• 2024 PFF Grade: 55.7
• 2024 PFF WAR: -0.03
• Contract: 2 years, $20 million
• PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $10 million ($6 million guaranteed) 
• PFF Deal Grade: Below Average

Although Jones experienced a productive year as a rotational contributor along the Vikings’ front, his numbers largely came as a result of Brian Flores’ scheme in Minnesota. While Jones enjoyed a career-best 69.4 PFF run-defense grade in 2024, his marks as a pass-rusher left much to be desired. His seven sacks in 2024 were a career high, but he managed just a 6.7% pass-rush win rate — 103rd out of 130 qualifying edge defenders in 2024.

CB Tre’Von Moehrig

• 2024 PFF Grade: 67.5
• 2024 PFF WAR: 0.14
• Contract: 3 years, $51 million
• PFF Projected Contract: 4 years, $72 million ($40 million guaranteed)
• PFF Deal Grade: Average

The Panthers will hope Moehrig can bring his excellent 2024 run play (87.5 PFF run-defense grade) with him from Las Vegas to Carolina, and improve upon a down season in coverage. Last year with the Raiders, he allowed completions on 38 of 54 throws into his coverage for 436 yards and five touchdowns. He did snag two interceptions and force three incompletions.

[Steves89]

You are doing the Lord’s work this off-season. 

[jfra78]

These guys are freaking Nostradamus, knowing who we gonna draft

[Basbear]

[mav1234]

2 Above Average: Rico Dowdle, Sam Martin

3 Average: Brady Christensen, Bobby Brown III, Tre'Von Moehrig

2 Below Average: Patrick Jones II, Tershawn Wharton

Not too bad.  Lots of fans have been down on the Moehrig deal but PFF seems to have expected him to get even more.

[Johnstonny]

We always look good on paper...and then we take a snap from center....

[LinvilleGorge]

1 hour ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

Last year with the Raiders, he allowed completions on 38 of 54 throws into his coverage for 436 yards and five touchdowns. 

70% completion rate. Oh wee fuging mayne..

[PadresPanthersFan]

Draft grade? But we only drafted a couple of them.....

[TD alt]

1 hour ago, LinvilleGorge said:

70% completion rate. Oh wee fuging mayne..

I don't think he was acquired for his coverage skills.

[BlazeCarolina]

Where's the guy who was hating on me calling me the punter police?

"Martin has been a reliable punter, earning a PFF punting grade above 65.0 in each of the past five seasons. He should be an upgrade over Johnny Hekker, who posted PFF punting grades of 60.2 in 2023 and 53.3 in 2024."

Lol.  Not gonna fight about it, just funny to me.

[Admiral Ackbar]

2 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

70% completion rate. Oh wee fuging mayne..

Yeah not so good. But I think from what I have been able to gather and take this with a grain of salt, he's more a "in the box" safety and is going to help in the run game, blitzing, covering TEs. No doubt we still need to get a solid coverage safety

[LinvilleGorge]

3 minutes ago, Admiral Ackbar said:

Yeah not so good. But I think from what I have been able to gather and take this with a grain of salt, he's more a "in the box" safety and is going to help in the run game, blitzing, covering TEs. No doubt we still need to get a solid coverage safety

Evero better retool his defensive system then because he primarily plays a two high shell. 

[MHS831]

On 3/14/2025 at 5:25 PM, jfra78 said:

These guys are freaking Nostradamus, knowing who we gonna draft

I think drafting players already in the NFL is genius.  Sneak attack!

[musicman]

I think it has more to do with the type of player and fitting the system. Morgan is looking for certain type players. Players that love the game, not just good at playing football. Players who put team maybe before personal goals. Let's hope that's what's going on. With the way Canales is a players coach, but has proven already (with Bryce) to make the tough call when needed for the team, maybe he just needs the right players. Team chemistry will beat a few really talented players every time.