Earlier this week, we revisited the list of returning players who needed to step up in 2022. It was an interesting exercise, considering nearly a third of the guys weren’t even on the Panthers’ roster by the end of the season.
Identifying 10 guys to fit in the same category this season required a little more effort, given the “returning players” qualifier. This is a roster that underwent a significant overhaul during the offseason, and a lot of those newcomers have to produce for the Panthers to compete for a playoff spot — from the obvious (Bryce Young) to the more obscure (Shy Tuttle).
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But, going out on a limb here, something tells me we’ll have a lot of opportunities to write about Young, beginning this weekend when the No. 1 pick takes the practice field for rookie minicamp. So let’s look at the 10 players who were on the Panthers’ roster in 2022 who have to do more this season to either assure their place on it or help this team succeed in Frank Reich’s first season.
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10. Cade Mays, OL
Last year’s sixth-round pick carved out a fun role as a rookie, lining up as a fullback in the Panthers’ short-yardage Arby’s package (“We have the meats!”). But considering both starting guards are coming off surgeries — Austin Corbett (ACL) won’t be ready for the start of the season — Mays could be an important piece up front in the early going. The Panthers brought in some other interior linemen, signing former Texans guard Justin McCray and drafting ex-NC State lineman Chandler Zavala in the fourth round. But last year Mays caught the attention of offensive line coach James Campen, who was one of the few holdovers from the Matt Rhule era.
9. Brandon Smith, ILB
Smith, another Day 3 pick from 2022, ended his rookie season on injured reserve after hurting his ankle during a Week 14 win at Seattle in his only start. Scott Fitterer drafted the Penn State product in the fourth round for his traits more than his college production. But the 6-foot-3, 240-pounder didn’t get much of a chance to show them on defense, though he was active on special teams before getting injured. Some members of the former staff wanted Smith to play with more tenacity. Maybe playing in a new scheme for new coaches will help Smith take a step in his development.
8. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR
No position group changed more for the Panthers than the receivers. DJ Moore was packaged in the deal with Chicago that brought Carolina the No. 1 pick, and Fitterer added three wideouts in free agency: Adam Thielen, DJ Chark and Damiere Byrd. The Panthers are counting on Terrace Marshall Jr. after he stepped up big last season following Robbie Anderson’s exit. But there still could be a place for Shenault, whose running ability — on jet sweeps and after the catch — expands an intriguing skill set. Shenault could also factor into the return game after averaging 27.3 yards on three kick returns in 2022.
7. Chuba Hubbard, RB
Hubbard’s role figures to remain the same. But instead of backing up Christian McCaffrey (and later D’Onta Foreman), Hubbard will complement free-agent acquisition Miles Sanders. Hubbard has a burst he’s demonstrated on occasion, including last year against Detroit when he and Foreman spearheaded a record-breaking rushing day for the Panthers. Hubbard ran for a career-high 125 yards on 12 carries in the win on Christmas Eve, breaking off three carries of 10 yards or longer. With Reich saying he views Sanders as a three-down back, Hubbard’s opportunities might be limited. He needs to be ready when they come.
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6. Amare Barno, OLB
Along with Smith, Barno was Fitterer’s other traits-y pick on Day 3 of last year’s draft. The sixth-rounder from Virginia Tech wasn’t on the field much as a rookie. But Barno had a sack in two of the three games in which he played at least 10 defensive snaps. The 6-6, 245-pound Barno is built similarly to Brian Burns, who took Barno under his wing during training camp last summer. Both look to be good fits at outside linebacker in Ejiro Evero’s 3-4 scheme. The Panthers brought back Marquis Haynes and might still sign a veteran to pair with Burns. But Barno has potential as a situational speed rusher.
5. Yetur Gross-Matos, OLB
Gross-Matos made this same list last season, when he had 17 starts to prove his worth. But it didn’t materialize, as the 2020 second-round pick from Penn State had just 2 1/2 sacks and finished as the team’s lowest-graded defensive player, according to Pro Football Focus. And that was in a scheme that seemed to suit him. That might not be the case this year for the 6-5, 265-pound Gross-Matos, who appears to lack the size to hold up as a 3-4 defensive end and the skill set to thrive as a stand-up edge rusher.
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4. Shaq Thompson, ILB
Thompson probably fits more neatly on a “guys with something to prove” list after agreeing to a significant pay cut that reduced his base salary to $1.2 million. But Thompson will play a pivotal role for the Panthers regardless. He’s one of only two players left from the 2015 Super Bowl team and a bridge between the former and current regimes. Thompson, who was a vocal supporter of interim coach Steve Wilks, is coming off a strong 2022 season in which he amassed a career-high 135 tackles. Thompson, who somehow is only 29, is the fifth player in team history to record 100 tackles in four consecutive seasons.
3. Tommy Tremble, TE
The Panthers passed on taking a tight end from a deep and talented draft class. That was partly because they signed Hayden Hurst in free agency and had reworked Ian Thomas’ deal. But it also could mean Reich — who’s always a big proponent of tight ends — believes Tremble can become a more consistent receiving threat in his system. The Panthers used a third-round pick on Tremble two years ago. If he doesn’t do anything this season, Fitterer and Reich likely won’t pass on a tight end again.
2. Donte Jackson, CB
The Panthers got a taste of life without starting corners Jackson and Jaycee Horn at the end of last season. It wasn’t pretty. The Panthers haven’t addressed their cornerback depth this offseason, putting the onus on the 27-year-old Jackson to stay healthy. When he went down with a ruptured Achilles in November, it marked the fourth consecutive year he failed to play a full season, dating to his rookie year. Jackson, whose 14 interceptions are the fifth most in team history, could get a look at nickel when he’s cleared to return.
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1. Jeremy Chinn, S
Chinn, the second-round pick from Southern Illinois, finished second to Chase Young in the defensive rookie of the year voting in 2020. Chinn was a distant second, and his support might have come from voters who saw his two-touchdown game against Minnesota. Still, it looked like the Panthers had found a playmaker. Chinn likely would have notched a third consecutive 100-tackle season last year had he not missed six games with a hamstring injury. But he failed to create a turnover and was involved in few impact plays. Ejiro will move Chinn around, from safety to big nickel to linebacker. The Panthers hope putting Chinn closer to the line of scrimmage will pay off in more plays.
(Top photo of Jeremy Chinn: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
