2023 was not the fantasy year that the Carolina Panthers were hoping for. The Carolina Panthers sent the Chicago Bears the ninth overall pick in 2023, the 61st overall pick in 2023, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and D.J. Moore for the first overall selection in the 2023 draft. The Carolina Panthers then selected Bryce Young out of the University of Alabama as their franchise quarterback—the first staple at the position since the Panthers selected Cam Newton first overall in 2011. The fairy tale did not come to fruition in 2023.
We saw the Carolina Panthers finish tied for 31st in the NFL in points per game (13.9), 32nd in the NFL in total yards per game (265.3), and tied for last in red zone scoring opportunities per game (2.1). The Carolina Panthers offensive line finished 19th in pass block win rate (54%) and 31st in run block win rate (65%). Lastly, the Carolina Panthers receiving core was in the bottom five in the league in separation created and win rate versus zone and man coverage. It was a recipe for disaster as the Carolina Panthers finished 2-15 on the season. Let’s preview the 2024 Carolina Panthers and provide insight for our friends at BetMGM North Carolina.
2024 Free Agency Additions
The biggest component of the 2023 season for the Carolina Panthers was that the offensive line did not hold up well for Bryce Young and he had no receivers to throw to. The Panthers were active in Free Agency attacking the offensive line and wide receiver free agents. Here are a few notable names added to the roster going into 2024.
- Offensive Guard. Robert Hunt
- Offensive Guard. Damien Lewis
- Wide Receiver. Diontae Johnson
- Coach. Dave Canales
Robert Hunt joins the Carolina Panthers on a five-year, $100M contract – a coveted offensive guard who has been one of the best young players at the position since he entered the league in 2020. Next was offensive guard Damien Lewis who joined the Carolina Panthers on a four-year, $53M contract. Another great piece to bolster the interior offensive line. Lewis started 61 games for the Seattle Seahawks spanning over the last four NFL seasons. Lastly, Diontae Johnson joins the Carolina Panthers via trade. The Panthers sent the Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson and pick swaps – an overall great addition to a struggling wide receiver core.
Diontae Johnson has amassed three seasons with 140 plus targets (2020-2022) and is one of the best route runners and separators in the NFL today. A sure-fire wide receiver one for Bryce Young. Yes, I know it’s weird to write about a head coach. In this situation, Dave Canales needs praise as labeled “QB Guru” where he worked with Geno Smith in Seattle, and we saw a career resurgence from him in 2022 in 2023 he was the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay where Baker Mayfield had the best year of his career so far and led Tampa Bay to an NFC South title and a playoff berth. He is a great coaching addition to help with Bryce Young’s development.
2024 Draft Additions (Offense)
- Xavier Legette. Wide Receiver South Carolina
- Jonathon Brooks. Running Back Texas
- Ja’Tavion Sanders. Tight End Texas
Offensive firepower was the goal in the 2024 draft for the Carolina Panthers. Three of the five draft picks were used on the offensive side of the ball. Xavier Legette is a flash in the pan some might say. A wide receiver who did not break out until his fifth year in college, but when he broke out, he amassed 71 receptions, 1,255 receiving yards, and seven scores in 2023. The breakout isn’t the only reason he was on the team’s radar.
Legette has one of the best shows at the NFL Combine in recent memory. Coming in at 6’1” 221 lbs. Legette ran a 4.39 forty-yard dash and registered a 9.92 Relative Athletic Score which was the 24th highest since 1987. An athletic freak for his size he has shades of D.K. Metcalf in his game.
Jonathon Brooks is a running back out of Texas who most certainly would’ve gone higher than the 46th overall pick if he hadn’t torn his ACL in November of 2023. Sitting behind Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, Brooks did not get to show his ability as a starting running back until the 2023 season. Brooks did not disappoint amassing 1,425 scrimmage yards on 212 total touches and 11 touchdowns in 11 games. He was a star for the University of Texas and a great running back for the future of the Carolina Panthers.
Ja’Tavion Sanders is a rookie tight end from the University of Texas. A big athletic body that can stretch the field vertically. He offers another dimension to this Carolina offense that they didn’t have in the middle of the field. His playing strength and the ability to play through tough contact is great. Another weapon at Bryce Young’s disposal.
2024 Carolina Panthers Dynasty ADP 1QB
- Bryce Young QB 20 (155)
- Jonathon Brooks RB 15 (52)
- Chuba Hubbard RB 52 (163)
- Diontae Johnson WR 43 (85)
- Xavier LeGette WR 44 (94)
- Adam Thielen WR 82 (187)
- Ja’Tavion Sanders TE 20 (164)
These numbers indicate the average draft position (ADP) for the Carolina Panthers offensive players heading into 2024. I listed these seven players as the most likely guys who will have fantasy success in 2024. There are a lot of values I like in terms of these players.
- Bryce Young. QB20 overall is a drastic falloff from this time last year when his Dynasty ADP was sitting in the 11-13 range. How many have forgotten how truly talented Bryce Young was at Alabama? The 2022 Heisman Trophy Winner was a leader on and off the field for this Alabama team that had elite play on the field. Ball placement, mobility inside and outside of the pocket, and decision-making are just a few of the elite traits that he possesses. Going into 2024 this Carolina Panthers team looks much different offensively. So could Bryce Young’s play. He is a guy who could outplay his ADP, and we could be talking about him as a top-14 quarterback heading into 2025.
- Jonathon Brooks. This is a player you will stash on your IR spot and reap the benefits at the end of the year. With the ACL tear the reports out of camp are that he won’t be ready until Week 3 or 4. Coming back from an ACL tear for a running back can be tricky. I wouldn’t be ready to deploy him in my fantasy lineups until the second half of the year. If he regains his form from 2023 he could be a league winner in the second half of the year.
- Chuba Hubbard. An overall running back price tag of 52 is simply too low for a starting running back. Last year when Hubbard took over the backfield from Miles Sanders, he had three RB1 weeks and never finished outside of RB3/Flex territory. A guy you can grab in the later rounds with no real consequence. He can be a plug-and-play running back in the early weeks of the 2024 season.
- Diontae Johnson. This is my true breakout for the Carolina Panthers this season. A guy who we’ve seen has a WR1 season and multiple WR2 seasons is going as WR43 in startups. It should not be happening. He is the WR1 on this roster and will be a safety blanket for Bryce Young. Bold prediction, Diontae Johnson will crack the top 25 wide receivers this season. Buy now before the rest of the Dynasty community catches up.
- Xavier Legette. The deep play guy the Carolina Panthers desperately need. With Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen typically being wide receivers who make plays around the line of scrimmage, Xavier LeGette can be the deep physical threat for Bryce Young. Averaging 17.7 yards per catch in 2023 at South Carolina he is a big play waiting to happen. A great long-term option for Bryce Young.
- Adam Thielen. A guy who finished last year as a WR2 option, amassing 137 targets, 103 catches, 1,014 yards, and 4 scores. He was the only wide receiver on the roster worth owning. At 34 years old, he doesn’t hold much value in Dynasty formats. He is a great stash late in your drafts and can be a plug-and-play guy for you.
- Ja’Tavion Sanders. The Carolina Panthers haven’t had a consistent receiving threat at the tight end position since Greg Olsen. Enter Ja’Tavion Sanders. A big play threat waiting to happen, he’s a big, physical, athletic tight end who can beat you in a multitude of ways. Whether it be vertical with his size, speed, and body positioning or he can win on the shallow crossing routes. He’s a matchup nightmare. A cheap option for you in Dynasty startups, he can be a stash on your bench until he’s ready to break out.
Conclusion
When the 2023 season ended I wasn’t excited for the long-term outlook of the Carolina Panthers. With the free-agency moves and draft additions, I believe this is a team with a sneaky upside in 2024. No, it won’t always be pretty. With any young team, there is a growing pain, but this team will not finish tied for 31st in the league in points per game, yards per game, and red zone scoring opportunities.
Thank you for taking time to read this article. If you have any questions you can follow me on Twitter/X @FFChalmers.
