10 positions the Carolina Panthers need to upgrade this offseason

It was clear to anyone who watched the Panthers this season that their No. 1 priority needs to be fixing their offensive line.

Offensive line and quarterback were the biggest problem spots, and if the Panthers can’t fix either, they’ll likely be in the same situation next year as they were last season.

But there are other positions that also need upgrading. With the salary cap projected to increase to $208.2 million this offseason, the Panthers are projected to have about $24 million in cap space, according to overthecap.com. That should increase some when some players have their deals restructured.

Here are 10 positions the Panthers must address:

1. Safety

Jeremy Chinn was a welcomed addition to safety this season, after making the move from linebacker. He led the Panthers in tackles with 107.

But where he and safety Juston Burris struggled most was helping create turnovers. Oftentimes, safeties are a team’s best defensive play-maker. Burris and Chinn combined for only two interceptions and one forced fumble in 2021. The Panthers ranked 28th in the league with only 16 takeaways.

Creating turnovers would have been crucial to flipping field position and giving the offense more opportunities to score.

Burris will be a free agent this offseason, and his return is unlikely.

Defensive coordinator Phil Snow indicated that he planned to evaluate whether Chinn would be better suited at safety or back at linebacker next season.

2. Tight end

The Panthers like Ian Thomas’ ability to block; he has been often credited by coach Matt Rhule for some of the plays he has made. But the Panthers need more from the position.

Thomas had 18 catches for 188 yards, while rookie Tommy Tremble had 20 catches for 180 yards and a touchdown. Neither player was a red-zone threat, and that limited the Panthers’ offense and made them predictable.

Thomas is a free agent this offseason, and while he could return, the Panthers need a true receiving threat.

3. Offensive guard

The Panthers will have at least three new starters on the offense line next season. Two of those new starters will be guards.

According to Pro Football Focus, John Miller allowed seven sacks in 10 games, while Michael Jordan allowed six in 11 games. That was the most and second-most allowed on the team.

Miller is a free agent again, and while returning isn’t out of the question, he won’t be a starter next season. This will be one of the Panthers’ priorities. They can either sign one in free agency or draft a guard.

Rookie Brady Christensen could start at one of the guard spots, but he could also be useful at left tackle. That’s one of the decisions the coaching staff must make soon because it will have an impact on who they pursue.

4. Offensive tackle

Cameron Erving is probably better suited as a backup and shouldn’t be the starter next season. He allowed the second-most quarterback pressures with 31 in nine games, trailing only Jordan.

The offensive line played a big part in the quarterbacks’ struggles this season. There were few opportunities to take deep shots because the pressure got to the quarterback before plays could develop.

Again, Christensen could be the upgrade at left tackle. But there will be plenty of options in the top 10 of the draft this year, including Alabama’s Evan Neal, Ole Miss’ Charles Cross and N.C. State’s Ikem Okwonu, who has played guard.

5. Inside linebacker

Perhaps Panthers fans were spoiled by Luke Kuechly, who was consistently one of the best defensive players in the league.

Carolina has to get more from its middle linebackers.

Jermaine Carter will be a free agent. He could re-sign, but he’ll likely have to battle for the starting job in training camp again. He had only 88 tackles, which was third on the team, but only three tackles for loss and no forced turnovers.

Safety and middle linebacker were the two missing pieces that could have transformed the Panthers’ defense to elite.

6. Defensive tackle

DaQuan Jones is set to become a free agent this offseason, and if he doesn’t re-sign, the Panthers will have to add another starter. They could bring him back. He stayed on the field and has always been durable, but he had only one tackle for loss.

The Panthers were among the worst teams at stopping the run, and teams knew that was the one area they could exploit. The Panthers were 18th in the league against the run.

An upgrade at the position is necessary.

7. Punter

The Panthers’ punting situation never got fixed through the season, and it’s likely what led to the firing of special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn.

The Panthers went through three different punters, and though Lachlan Edwards ended up being better than Joe Charloton in his final two games, he still didn’t do enough.

Of Carolina’s 73 punts, only 19 punts were inside the 20.

8. Kick return/punt return

The Panthers haven’t got their return game fixed in years. Alex Erickson averaged 8.9 yards per return, and his longest return was for 22 yards.

Returners can provide a spark for a team, and the Panthers never found that.

9. Wide receiver

Perhaps what the Panthers need more than anything is to get Terrace Marshall going. Marshall showed in the preseason that he has potential.

But there were games when the ball didn’t even come his way. The Panthers’ No. 3 wide receiver finished with only 17 catches, which was ninth on the team.

DJ Moore was the team’s only reliable option when Christian McCaffrey went down with injury.

Robby Anderson’s production dipped dramatically this year after getting his two-year $29.5 million contract extension. He finished with 53 catches for 519 yards — a career-low in his six NFL seasons.

The Panthers thought Anderson and quarterback Sam Darnold would have a connection given their two seasons together with the Jets. But Anderson was the only Panthers player absent from OTAs and it was clear he and Darnold never developed a connection.

Teams can never have too many talented wide receivers. The Panthers need to add more depth here.

10. Quarterback

What became clear this past season is that Sam Darnold is not the answer.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, they are stuck with him after picking up his fifth-year option last offseason. Darnold is guaranteed to make $18.9 million next season.

But despite that, the Panthers need to take their lumps and make him a backup. They need to find another quarterback whether that’s through the draft, free agency or via a trade.

Darnold finished with nine touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He also lost four fumbles.

While much of that can be blamed on the offensive line, there was little to show that Darnold can take the Panthers to the playoffs.