Last Year:

Record: 6-10

Offense: 23.1 (15th)

Defense: 25.1 (26th)

Offseason: 

Key Acquisitions: LT. Matt Kalil, DE. Julius Peppers, CB. Captain Munnerlyn, S. Mike Adama

Key Losses: WR. Ted Ginn Jr., LT. Mike Remmers, S. Tre Boston

 Breakdown

Offense:

The Panthers were a middle of the pack offense last year but they have the potential to be a lot better in 2017. It will all start with Cam Newton who may be the biggest question mark of the offense. Will he play closer to the level he did in 2015 when he won MVP or closer to last season where he was not even a top 15 player at his position? My guess is somewhere in the middle. Cam is not truly an elite QB unless he is running the ball at a high clip and word from the Panthers organization is that they want to scale Newton’s rush load back. With Cam functioning mostly as a passer he will have to dramatically improve as a passer. The Panthers investment in Cam running less was apparent when they picked RB Christian McCaffrey in the top 10 with their first round pick. He and Jonathan Stewart should be a formidable duo as their styles compliment each other perfectly. McCaffrey is a lightning quick dual-threat back with major receiving ability and Stewart is a big physical power back. With those two in the backfield the Panthers should be fine running Cam less.  The Panthers receiving corps was not overly impressive last season. Greg Olsen was spectacular as usual but the rest of the gang was not so great. Benjamin was good but not consistent but last year he was getting readjusted as he missed the entire 2015 season. I expect him to be even better in 2017. The question is who is going to step up and be the third option? Ted Ginn Jr. and Corey Brown were the next most productive receivers a year ago for the Panthers and both are gone. The team’s 2015 second round pick Devin Funchess and Curtis Samuel, their 2017 second round pick, are projected to step up and replace those guys and could potentially be more productive but both are relatively unproven. The Panthers had one of the best O-line’s in football in 2015 yet due to injury and players playing out of position they regressed significantly last season. Once again the interior figures to be the strength of this group. When he is on his game Kalil is one of the best centers in the league and the anchor of this group. They have one of the better guard duos in the league in Norwell, who was their best lineman in 2016, and Turner who is a bruising run blocker. The tackle position has been lacking over the years for the Panthers but they hope to have figured it out with the free agent acquisition of former Vikings LT Matt Kalil. Kalil did not have a good season last year but he has in the past and is still young enough to play at a high level again. Daryl Williams and Taylor Moton will compete for the RT spot. Williams should have the inside track on the job due to his edge in experience over the rookie but he was only average at best when he took over at RT a year ago once Mike Remmers moved to LT. Overall unless Cam drastically improves as a pocket passer or McCaffrey has David Johnson caliber production in his rookie year I just cannot see the Panthers offense being significantly better than last year in terms of overall production.

Defense:

The Panthers defense is where I expect to see this team improve most. A year ago they allowed over 25 points per game and I definitely expect that number to be down in 2017. The defensive line is loaded this season. The Panthers were second in the NFL in sacks with 47 and now they have added former Panthers legend Julius Peppers back into the fold. The Panthers have a legitimate six starting caliber defensive lineman and really good backups as well. On the interior the duo of Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei are back and they have been one of the better defensive tackle duos since being drafted together. Not only do they have those two but they drafted Vernon Butler last season in the first round and can rotate him in for both giving them a great 3 man rotation in the middle. The Panthers have the same deal on the edge as well. Incumbents Charles Johnson and Mario Addison will return as the starting ends but expect Julius Peppers to be utilized a lot as well. The Panthers are just as strong at the linebacker position. They have the best linebacker in the league in Luke Kuechly and two very good outside backers beside him in Thomas Davis and Shaq Thompson. Davis is getting older and Thompson could be ready to supplant him in nickel packages. The Panthers secondary was not very effective last season without Josh Norman. They finished 29th against the pass. The team started two rookies at corner who were not even first round picks and it went about as well as expected. As far as corners go James Bradberry was really the only guy that played well. He returns as the top corner this season. Though he played well he would be better served as the second best corner on a team not number one. Worley will start again on the otherside and will need to play a lot better in his second season. The team signed Captain Munnerlyn to play in the slot who was ok but nothing special last year. Kurt Coleman is back at SS and the team picked up Mike Adams in free agency to play FS. Coleman was the team’s best safety a year ago and though his play dipped some from his pro bowl 2015 season he was still pretty good. Adams was good in Indy a year ago and should help improve the Panthers secondary. Overall I expect the Panthers defense to closer resemble the unit the lead them to super bowl in 2015 more so than the disaster they were in 2016. There are still major concerns at corner but with an elite front seven and two good safeties it should be enough to somewhat overcome the corner position.