Projection of Carolina Panthers’ depth chart following the 2025 NFL Draft
The Carolina Panthers got younger, faster and stronger following an eight-pick haul in this past weekend’s NFL Draft.
With the newly drafted recruits — and a dozen reported undrafted free-agent additions as well — the depth chart was expanded and improved heading into the heart of the offseason program. While some rookies will be expected to play roles, others will have to prove their merit during rookie minicamp, organized team activities (OTAs), training camp and the preseason to earn jobs.
Here is an updated projected depth chart following the 2025 NFL Draft:
Italics: Rookie
Underlined: Reported undrafted signing
/: Shared position or competition
(Note: The Panthers have agreed to terms with more undrafted rookies than they have open spots, so they’ll need to make roster reductions before they sign the whole undrafted class to contracts.)
Quarterback
QB: Bryce Young, Andy Dalton, Jack Plummer, Ethan Garbers
The Panthers predictably passed on a quarterback this past weekend. While they have added Garbers to the fold, he’s likely competing with Plummer for the No. 3 spot, which could still be on the practice squad. Instead of facing younger competition, Young was given two new wideouts, a new tight end and a new running back to work with. Dalton, Young’s enduring backup, will be a fixture of practice and insurance in case of injury.
Running back
RB: Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, Trevor Etienne, Raheem Blackshear, Emani Bailey, Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams
PUP: Jonathon Brooks (knee)
The Panthers added Etienne with their first pick in the fourth round. With that investment, Carolina is likely to get him on the field this year, either as a third running back or a returner or both. Hubbard and Dowdle will lead the charge in the backfield, while Etienne and Blackshear battle for playing time, with the odds somewhat stacked against the latter. Brooks, who re-tore his right ACL during his rookie season, is likely to be shelved well beyond training camp and the preseason.
Wide receiver
WR (X): Tetairoa McMillan, David Moore, Brycen Tremayne, Jacolby George
WR (Z): Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, Dan Chisena, Dax Milne, Kobe Hudson, Muhsin Muhammad III
Slot: Adam Thielen, Hunter Renfrow, Jimmy Horn Jr., T.J. Luther
The Panthers drafted McMillan to be an immediate fixture of the their offense. The towering playmaker will likely man the X spot, while Legette — who has a bit more speed and gadget ability — will work out of the flanker (or Z) position. Thielen, the most reliable wideout on the roster over the past two years, will primarily work out of the slot. Despite those immediate roles, the three players will likely get the chance to move around the formation.
Coker and Moore are solid backups to the top three, and they’ll both be pushed during the offseason by the newly arrived Renfrow, who just joined the team on Sunday. After taking a year off, Renfrow will need to show he still has notable speed and route running prowess. He could also factor into the punt returner job as well.
Chisena, who flashed as a special teams ace last season, will be tested in the lineup by Horn, who was selected in the sixth round. Undrafted wideouts, George and Hudson, are both interesting adds that could surprise some this summer. Muhammad is the son of Panthers legend Muhsin Muhammad, so he has franchise ties to the organization.
Tight end
TE: Tommy Tremble (F), Ja’Tavion Sanders (Y), Mitchell Evans, Jordan Matthews, James Mitchell, Dominique Daffney, Bryce Pierre, Colin Granger
The Panthers are essentially replacing Ian Thomas with Evans as the third tight end in the lineup. Evans should be the primary backup to Tremble and Sanders in two-tight end sets this season, as he can both block and catch at a reasonable clip. Matthews will, once again, look to force his way onto the roster with a strong camp. Mitchell, Granger and Daffney could be competing for one or two practice squad spots.
Offensive line
LT: Ikem Ekwonu, Brady Christensen, Brandon Walton
LG: Damien Lewis, Chandler Zavala, Luke Kandra
C: Austin Corbett/Cade Mays, Andrew Raym, Steven Losoya
RG: Robert Hunt, Jarrett Kingston, Ja’Tyre Carter
RT: Taylor Moton, Yosh Nijman, Michael Tarquin
The offensive line stayed largely static during draft weekend. The Panthers, though, decided to pick up Ekwonu’s fifth-year option, which puts him under contract through the 2026 season. Carolina has added a few intriguing undrafted linemen, but the real battle in the trenches will feature Corbett and Mays at center. Both veteran players have solid experience and talent, and Carolina is hoping the competition will bring out the best in them. The Panthers run two units deep along the line heading into OTAs.
Defensive line
DE: Derrick Brown, Shy Tuttle, LaBryan Ray, Sam Roberts
NT: Bobby Brown, Cam Jackson, Jerrod Clark, Popo Aumavae
DE: A’Shawn Robinson/Tershawn Wharton, Jaden Crumedy, Jared Harrison-Hunte
Carolina added a mountain of a man to the mix in Jackson, who is likely to be a backup nose tackle and defensive end as a rookie. The Panthers have been loud about their desire to show multiple looks up front and use platoon packages. In an odd front, Robinson and Wharton will likely rotate opposite both Browns. In even fronts, all four players could be used in an interior rotation.
Wharton, Robinson and both Browns will get a ton of playing time. Jackson, Tuttle, Crumedy, Roberts and Ray will be competing for playing time and jobs. Tuttle, even after taking a pay cut, could be the hot seat following the arrival of Jackson.
Outside linebacker
OLB: D.J. Wonnum/Patrick Jones, Princely Umanmielen, Amare Barno, Thomas Incoom
OLB: Jadeveon Clowney, Nic Scourton, D.J. Johnson, Carlos Basham, Kenny Dyson
The Panthers were non-committal on Clowney following the Day 2 selections of Scourton and Umanmielen on Friday. Until that situation settles, Clowney will be penciled in as a starter. Wonnum and Jones would be linked to start if Clowney was released or traded, but for now, they’ll likely be seen as a rotational duo. Scourton, depending on what happens to Clowney, could have a major role early, despite being just 20 years old.
Umanmielen is likely to be used as a situational pass rusher early on, as he brings a unique speed to the group. Johnson and Barno, a pair of former draft picks, are fighting jobs in training camp. Barno might have the edge as a unique size-speed specimen at gunner on special teams. Incoom and Dyson will look to stick around for a second season, either on the roster or the practice squad.
Inside linebacker
ILB: Josey Jewell, Claudin Cherelus, Jon Rhattigan, Bam Martin-Scott
ILB: Trevin Wallace, Christian Rozeboom, Jacoby Windmon, Tuasivi Nomura
The Panthers surprisingly passed on adding an inside linebacker in the draft. While they’ve added a pair of undrafted free agents, Wallace should be seen as a solidified starter entering OTAs. Rozeboom, a veteran special teams ace, will push Wallace during the summer and provide important depth behind him and Jewell.
Cherelus and Rhattigan will also provide support, but they are both known more for their special teams prowess.
Cornerback
CB: Jaycee Horn, Akayleb Evans, Corey Thornton, Mike Reid
CB: Mike Jackson, Chau Smith-Wade (NCB), Shemar Bartholomew, M.J. Devonshire
The Panthers also passed on adding a draft pick at corner this past weekend. Horn and Jackson are the team’s well-paid starters, while Smith-Wade is expected to play the nickel role again this year. Evans and Bartholomew will look to hold onto their jobs as immediate backups as well.
Devonshire was claimed off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, according to the league’s transaction wire. The team also reportedly agreed to terms with two undrafted rookies for depth purposes after the draft.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Panthers add a veteran to the group before training camp.
Safety
S: Tre’von Moehrig, Nick Scott, Jack Henderson
S: Lathan Ransom/Demani Richardson, Isaac Gifford, Trevian Thomas
The Panthers selected Ransom in the fourth round, and he should see the field immediately, whether he’s a starter or not. Ransom has special teams experience, and he could be seen as a major asset in that regard. Plus, without much competition, he should be a favorite to start opposite Moehrig.
Ranson will see competition from Richardson, and that battle will likely determine their pecking order in Week 1. Also, don’t rule out the Panthers signing a veteran like Julian Blackmon or Marcus Williams in the coming days. Both players visited the Panthers in March and neither player has signed a deal elsewhere.
Special teams
K: Matthew Wright/Ryan Fitzgerald
P: Sam Martin
LS: JJ Jansen
The Panthers will host a kicking competition this offseason. Fitzgerald, an undrafted rookie, will face off against nomad specialist, Wright, this summer. With punter and long snapper solidified, the Panthers are hoping that either Fitzgerald or Wright wins the job with a strong performance in training camp and the preseason. Fitzgerald made all 13 of his field-goal attempts last year, including all five from beyond 50 yards.
This story was originally published April 29, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Projection of Carolina Panthers’ depth chart following the 2025 NFL Draft."
