Panthers pressure cooker: 10 returning players who need to excel in 2024 (2024)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Just as Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper asked Charlotte City Council to step up with $650 million in public money for a stadium renovation, The Athletic is rolling out its third annual “10 guys who must step up for the Panthers” list — at a fraction of the Bank of America Stadium makeover cost.

Revisiting the 2023 edition of this list revealed that only four of the 10 players met the “step up” criteria, though two others — Shaq Thompson and Laviska Shenault Jr. — didn’t have much of a chance to do so because of injuries.

Thompson was one of only a couple of big-name players included on the 2023 list. This year’s version has more star power: When a team goes 2-15, you could make the case that everyone in the organization has to be better — at least those who are still around.

As in previous years, we kept the focus on returning players — 10 of whom could help the Panthers be competitive in Dave Canales’ first season as head coach.

10. Austin Corbett, C

Like Thompson and Shenault, Corbett spent much of last season in the training room recovering from a pair of knee surgeries (on the same knee, but different ligaments). This is a big season for Corbett, who is shifting from right guard to center in the final year of the three-year contract he signed in 2022. The Panthers spent lavishly on free-agent guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis to fortify the interior of the line for Bryce Young, who was sacked 62 times as a rookie. Canales and Dan Morgan are putting a lot of faith in Corbett, who’s a dependable leader and blocker but will be lining up at a position he’s never played in a regular-season game.

9. Shaq Thompson, LB

Thompson fractured his ankle in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. So it’s not like he has to step up from a middling season. Thompson makes the list because of his importance as a player and leader to a defense that lost three key pieces in the offseason — edge rusher Brian Burns, linebacker Frankie Luvu and cornerback Donte Jackson. The Panthers brought in a handful of veteran free agents on defense, including edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, safety Jordan Fuller and linebacker Josey Jewell. But they’re counting on the 30-year-old Thompson to return to his pre-injury form (four consecutive 100-tackle seasons). They also need him to retain his strong voice, which has come naturally for the longest-tenured position player on the roster.

8. DJ Johnson, OLB

An optimist might say Johnson has nowhere to go but up after a rookie season in which the third-round pick from Oregon failed to make much of an impact. But someone else might argue that after Johnson spent six years in college — at two schools and two positions — what the Panthers saw last year is what they have. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero hopes that’s not the case. Because, though the Clowney signing was notable, the outside linebacker group still looks thin. Johnson looks more like a set-the-edge run stopper in the mold of Yetur Gross-Matos than a premier pass rusher. But there’s a need for that, too.

7. Shy Tuttle, DL

Flanked by Pro Bowler Derrick Brown and free-agent acquisition A’Shawn Robinson, Tuttle doesn’t necessarily have to become an All-Pro at nose tackle in Evero’s 3-4 scheme. But the Panthers could use a tad more production from the 6-3, 300-pounder, who was ranked in the bottom third at his position by Pro Football Focus in 2023. Tuttle was durable in his first season in Carolina, starting all 17 games and finishing with a half-sack and tying his career high with five batted passes.

6. Eddy Pineiro, K

Pineiro had a solid season in 2023. But his “step up” designation comes after he was a no-show during the entire voluntary portion of the offseason. Pineiro’s absence is thought to be contract related: He’s set to make $2.25 million in the second year of a two-year deal, which ranks 20th among kickers. While Pineiro has been in Miami, undrafted rookie Harrison Mevis went 15-for-15 on field goals (with a long of 60 yards) during the three OTA practices open to the media. Pineiro will incur fines if he’s not at this week’s mandatory minicamp, so expect him to be back in Charlotte. The competition with Mevis will begin in earnest in August.

5. Jonathan Mingo, WR

The Panthers took Mingo with the 39th pick last year with the hope he and Young would be a productive connection for years to come. The early results were far from promising. Mingo arrived as a raw route runner and would get off course on some of his deep patterns, costing Young and the offense chances at big plays. Mingo had 43 receptions on 85 targets for a 50.6 catch percentage that was the fifth lowest in the league. Mingo’s struggles helped convince the Panthers to trade for former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Diontae Johnson and draft ex-South Carolina receiver Xavier Legette with the 32nd pick, pushing Mingo down the depth chart.

4. Miles Sanders, RB

Sanders was the only running back to sign a lucrative contract (four years, $25.4 million) during the 2023 offseason, then was out of a starting job by Week 6. The former Philadelphia Eagle followed up a career-best year with his worst, finishing with 432 rushing yards and one touchdown. While Chuba Hubbard established himself as the starter, Sanders ranked among the bottom six in the NFL among qualified backs in rushing yardage, touchdowns and yards per carry (3.35). Canales keeps saying there’s a place for Sanders in the offense. But the team’s actions — drafting Jonathon Brooks as the first running back taken, signing veteran Rashaad Penny — would seem to suggest otherwise.

3. Jaycee Horn, CB

Any discussion of Horn comes with a caveat. The son of Joe Horn is one of the team’s best players … when he’s on the field. The former South Carolina standout could be regarded among the league’s top cornerbacks … if he stays healthy. After missing 29 of 51 games since the Panthers drafted him eighth in 2021, Horn changed up his routine and did more weightlifting this offseason. Defensive pass game coordinator Jonathan Cooley pointed to Horn’s showing against Mike Evans in Week 18 last season — Evans had three catches for 22 yards on eight targets as evidence of what he’s capable of. “What he has is rare,” Cooley said. “He has size. He has speed. He has instincts, and he’s very tough. And the one thing that separates him from a lot of those guys is his competitive drive.”

2. Ikem Ekwonu, OT

The Panthers’ efforts to fortify the interior of the line could be offset with another disappointing year by left tackle Ikem Ekwonu. The No. 6 pick from 2022 said he was humbled by a sophom*ore slump in which he allowed 11 sacks, third most among offensive tackles. He also acknowledged he was “riding the coattails” of a strong rookie season and didn’t spend as much time watching film with coaches as he has this offseason. Canales’ emphasis on establishing the run should benefit Ekwonu, who was a pancake-blocking machine at NC State. Canales also wants Young to get the ball out quickly. Still, the Panthers need “Ickey” to be the franchise left tackle they thought they drafted two years ago.

1. Bryce Young, QB

Most observers reserved judgment on the No. 1 pick last year because of the Panthers’ failure to surround him with effective assets and to adequately protect him. And though this receiving corps won’t remind anyone of the Miami Dolphins’ or Houston Texans’ wideouts, the additions of Johnson and Legette should create separation that was nonexistent in 2023. Former Texas tight end and fourth-round pick Ja’Tavion Sanders also has intriguing receiving skills. The O-line is unquestionably better, and Canales has a history of turning quarterbacks around. Veteran backup Andy Dalton said Young will benefit from a challenging 2023. “The biggest jump you take is from Year 1 to Year 2. And Bryce is going to experience that. We’re gonna see Bryce do things he didn’t do last year just because of the experience,” Dalton said. “We’re already seeing it right now. This was all new to him last year, his first OTAs. Now he’s back in here, you can tell how much more comfortable he is right now than he was last year.”

(Top photo of Bryce Young and Ikem Ekwonu: John Byrum / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Joe Person is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Carolina Panthers. He has covered the team since 2010, previously for the Charlotte Observer. A native of Williamsport, Pa., Joe is a graduate of William & Mary, known for producing presidents and NFL head coaches. Follow Joseph on Twitter @josephperson