The 2024 NFL Season is rapidly approaching. The season kicks off on Thursday, September 5 and every day through Monday, September 2 we’ll be going team-by-team as we preview the new season. Be sure to come back here every afternoon as we look at a new team and get your ready for the 2024 season. We’ll cover off-season changes, the fantasy prospects, and the prediction for how the team will fare this season.

The Panthers had the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, using it to get the quarterback of the future in Bryce Young to pair with new coach Frank Reich. It wasn’t a great year for either. Reich didn’t even last one full season for the Panthers, while Young struggled as a rookie. The Panthers earned the No. 1 overall pick again—but had already traded it to Chicago. That left a tall order for new Head Coach Dave Canales as he tries to re-shape Young and get the Panthers back on track. Let’s dive in.

Off-Season Changes

The Panthers made a few changes this off-season, parting ways with veteran receiver D.J. Chark, tight end Hayden Hurst, and receiver Laviska Shenault. The team also saw veteran safeties Vonn Bell and Jeremy Chinn, along with defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos. The team also traded veteran pass rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants. The team did bring in safety Nick Scott, linebacker Josey Jewell, and defensive linemen Jadeveon Clowney and A’Shawn Robinson to bolster the defense. But the biggest free agent move was trading for Steelers’ receiver Diontae Johnson. Johnson caught 391 passes for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns in five seasons. He gives the Panthers a No. 1 target in the passing game.

The team also used the draft to bolster the young offense. The team added Jonathon Brooks, a running back out of Texas. He ran for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023. The team also snagged a solid receiver in Xavier Legette. He had 71 receptions for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 for South Carolina. Later in the draft, the Panthers also snagged a tight end prospect in Ja’Tavion Sanders.

Fantasy Prospects

The Panthers biggest question is still Young. Can Canales get the most out of him? He was QB23 last season. I like him to improve, but he’s still a mid-QB2 for me. In the backfield, Chuba Hubbard led the way for the Panthers in 2023 as RB27 despite the team splashing out for Miles Sanders. Brooks is the future, but he’s working back from injury. I think Hubbard is the lead to start the season with Brooks coming on by the end. Both are in RB3 range for me.

In the passing game, Johnson and Legette are flanked by veteran Adam Thielen and second-year receiver Jonathan Mingo. Thielen led the team last year but faded some down the stretch. I think Johnson leads this year and all four are involved. I have Johnson in WR3/4 territory. At tight end, Sanders is battling veterans Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble, both of whom have been injured in camp. I like Sanders long-term, but I don’t like any of them as a Top 25 option in 2024.

Prediction

Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor will the Panthers be re-built in one off-season. The team is making strides and I expect Canales to help them take another step forward. Still, this is a four-to-six-win team that likely finishes at the bottom of the NFC South yet again in 2024.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.