Thoughts on Carolina Panthers’ depth chart following cut down to 53-man roster

The Carolina Panthers made more than three dozen transactions to get down to the 53-man roster limit ahead of Tuesday’s cut-down deadline.

With the initial depth chart in place, the Panthers are expected to still be very active on Wednesday’s waiver wire, as the team owns top priority on claims. In order to understand the Panthers’ remaining needs, it’s important to look at what the team currently has in place.

Here are thoughts on each of the Panthers’ position groups on the initial 53-man roster:

Quarterback

On the roster: Bryce Young, Andy Dalton

Off the roster: Jack Plummer (waived)

Young has improved immensely in practice during his second summer in Carolina. He offered a glimpse of that growth in the preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills — weaving through the pocket, making improvised throws and connecting with his receivers. It’s fair to be optimistic about Young entering the season, especially with those flashes of playmaking ability fresh in the mind.

Dalton is the trusty veteran backup QB who can still sling it. After missing most of camp and the entire preseason, he should be ready to play if called upon in Week 1.

Plummer, who played quite well in the preseason finale, will be a prime practice-squad candidate if he makes it through waivers. He has earned consideration to be part of the future in the QB room.

The NFLPA recently abandoned the practice-squad elevation for the emergency third QB rule, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. That could cause some teams to look into stashing Plummer as a potential third quarterback.

Running back

On the roster: Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear

Off the roster: Mike Boone (released), Jaden Shirden (waived)

Injury list: Jonathon Brooks (NFI)

Hubbard has been at the top of the depth chart all summer and will be continue to lead the charge in Week 1. With Brooks getting some extra time on the non-football injury list, Sanders will serve as Hubbard’s change-of-pace back and his replacement on obvious passing plays.

Blackshear is likely to be the team’s top kick returner, and he will probably be in the mix at punt returner as well.

Boone is a vested veteran who will not be subject to waivers. The Panthers, if they plan to stash additional players on injured reserve with possibility of the respective returns to the lineup, could re-sign Boone after handling the added housekeeping on the injured lists.

According to NFL Network’s Pelissero, Boone is expected to re-sign with the team after the initial cut-down deadline.

Wide receiver

On the roster: Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Coker, David Moore, Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Off the roster: Terrace Marshall Jr. (waived), Michael Strachan (waived), Sam Pinckney (waived)

Despite putting forth the best training camp and preseason performances of his career, Marshall was waived on Tuesday. The Panthers decided that having Marshall as their fifth receiver made little sense because of his lack of special teams prowess. Instead, he will now hit the waiver wire in search of a new receiver-needy team. Still, it’s somewhat surprising the Panthers couldn’t get anything in return for the 2021 second-round pick.

With Marshall off the roster, the Panthers will head into 2024 with a new and improved top four on their depth chart: Johnson, Thielen, Mingo and Legette. Johnson and Thielen continue to be trusted targets at this stage of their respective careers, while Mingo and Legette are big-bodied upside players. It’s a solid room, especially with Johnson looking like a No. 1 wideout all summer long.

Moore is a utility backup who is a longtime pupil of Dave Canales. The veteran wideout can also return punts and kicks and cover on special teams. Smith-Marsette is likely to be the team’s primary punt returner and main backup at the slot position.

Coker, an undrafted rookie, should get time to learn the game behind-the-scenes while getting reps in practice. The team clearly didn’t want to risk him to waivers.

Despite the notable number of bodies at wide receiver, don’t be surprised if the Panthers claim one or two off waivers to upgrade the depth at the position. Quite a few noteworthy names are hitting the wire following the cut-down deadline.

Tight end

On the roster: Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas, Ja’Tavion Sanders

Off the roster: Jordan Matthews (released), Feleipe Franks (waived), Jacob Hollister (released), Jesper Horsted (released)

Tremble (hamstring) and Thomas (calf) are both coming off prolonged training camp injuries. With their respective recoveries coinciding with the ramp up to Week 1, it’s a bit surprising the Panthers went so light at the position.

Sanders, the team’s fourth-round pick, made strides as a blocker, and he should be used regularly as a rookie. Matthews, one of the best stories of camp, will likely be back on the practice squad by Thursday’s workout. Matthews is a vested veteran so he is not subject to waivers.

Still, tight end feels like an underwhelming group on paper, so don’t be surprised if the Panthers add another player to the mix via the waiver wire on Wednesday, especially with Thomas and Tremble dealing with injuries.

Offensive line

On the roster: Ikem Ekwonu, Damien Lewis, Austin Corbett, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton, Yosh Nijman, Chandler Zavala, Brady Christensen, Cade Mays, Andrew Raym

Off the roster: Jeremiah Crawford (waived), Tyler Smith (waived-injured), Jack Anderson (waived), Mason Brooks (waived), Ike Boettger (released), Ricky Lee (waived)

The starting five of Ekwonu, Lewis, Corbett, Hunt and Moton has been set since March. The Panthers signed Lewis and Hunt to huge deals and moved Corbett from right guard to center. While Corbett has had some struggles with snapping the ball in shotgun, he has made the center position noticeably more athletic this summer.

Christensen has proven to be the line’s unofficial sixth man, as he can play all five positions — with in-game experience at both guard and both tackle spots. Mays was the backup center for the entire summer until he sustained a shoulder injury in the preseason opener. Zavala has improved over his rough rookie year, and he looks to be a main backup at guard. Nijman just came off the physically unable to perform list with a leg injury. Look for the Panthers to bring Nijman along slowly, as he missed all of training camp on the PUP list.

Raym is probably the surprise holdover of the group. The undrafted center did a very nice job blocking for Young in the preseason finale with Corbett home with his newborn son on Saturday.

Defensive line

On the roster: Derrick Brown, Shy Tuttle, A’Shawn Robinson, Nick Thurman, Jaden Crumedy, LaBryan Ray, Jayden Peevy

Off the roster: Walter Palmore (waived), Ulumoo Ale (waived), Junior Aho (waived-injured), T.J. Smith (waived)

Brown, Tuttle and Robinson make for an imposing defensive front trio. Behind them, they’ll rely on the versatility of Ray, Peevy and Thurman.

All three experienced backups can play all three spots, so they can weave throughout the front with the likes of Brown, Tuttle and Robinson on any given play. Crumedy, this year’s sixth-round pick, sustained an ankle injury in the preseason. He could be a candidate for injured reserve with a return designation on Wednesday.

The Panthers should have a better run defense this year.

Inside linebacker

On the roster: Shaq Thompson, Josey Jewell, Trevin Wallace, Claudin Cherelus

Off the roster: Aaron Beasley (waived), Chandler Wooten (waived)

Injury list: Tae Davis (IR - foot)

Thompson and Jewell will lead the defense this year. Thompson and Jewell both have experience in Ejiro Evero’s defense, and that should help the group get off to a fast start this season.

Wallace, the team’s third-round pick, was one of the true stars of the summer, and he should find himself on the field on obvious passing downs early in his career. Cherelus is a special teams ace who made strides as a defender this summer.

The final spot on the depth chart should be considered volatile. Inside linebacker is typically an advantageous spot to upgrade on the waiver wire— as Carolina did last year with Cherelus.

If the Panthers feel like they can make the most of their top priority on the wire, they’ll pounce at this position.

Outside linebacker

On the roster: Jadeveon Clowney, D.J. Johnson, Eku Leota, K’Lavon Chaisson

Off the roster: Kenny Dyson (waived), Derrick McLendon (waived), Luiji Vilain (waived)

Injury list: D.J. Wonnum (PUP - quad), Amare Barno (PUP - knee), Cam Gill (IR - hand/ankle)

Clowney had an outstanding summer. But outside of the Rock Hill, S.C., native, the group leaves a lot to be desired. Johnson, last year’s third-round pick, made some strides as a pass rusher in the preseason, and he is likely to start opposite Clowney with Wonnum on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

Leota had his moments in the preseason, so he will remain as long as the Panthers can’t find a better option on the waiver wire. Chaisson is a veteran with special teams experience, and the Panthers went out of their way to sign him in free agency.

This is a position group that could use more than one upgrade from the waiver wire. It’d be fair to expect the Panthers to claim at least one pass rusher on Wednesday.

Look for Dyson and McLendon to return on the practice squad if they both pass through waivers.

Cornerback

On the roster: Jaycee Horn, Troy Hill, Mike Jackson, Chau Smith-Wade, D’Shawn Jamison

Off the roster: Willie Drew (waived), Quandre Mosely (waived), Chris Wilcox (waived), Dicaprio Bootle (waived)

Injury list: Dane Jackson (IR - designated for return - hamstring)

With Dane Jackson set to miss roughly a month with a hamstring injury, the Panthers are expected to start Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson (acquired in a trade last week) and Troy Hill in the secondary. Smith-Wade will be a primary backup at nickel and outside cornerback, while Jamison will be provide additional support and be a secondary returner on special teams.

There’s also plenty of room to grow at the position. While Jamison and Mike Jackson look like initial contributors, a waiver claim (or two) could drastically shake up the dynamic. The Panthers won’t be shy about upgrading the position if they can.

In terms of the practice squad, Bootle was one of the tougher cuts, and he should return on the practice roster if he passes through waivers unclaimed.

Safety

On the roster: Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller, Nick Scott, Demani Richardson, Jammie Robinson

Off the roster: Rudy Ford (released), Alex Cook (waived)

Injury list: Sam Franklin (IR - designated for return - foot)

The safety group is stacked, even with Franklin sidelined with a foot injury.

The Panthers will start the trio of Woods, Fuller and Scott in big nickel looks, and will mix and match them in different packages during the campaign. Robinson is a special teams contributor with defensive upside, while Richardson is an undrafted upstart — one of three undrafted rookies to make the initial 53-man roster — who could be eased into the defense and special teams down the road.

Ford could be back on the practice squad in short order, as he is a special teams ace with vested veteran status. Cook is an NFL-level player who could also be back soon enough.

Special teams

On the roster: JJ Jansen (LS), Johnny Hekker (P), Eddy Piñeiro

Off the roster: N/A

There are no surprises here. The trio has been set since undrafted rookie kicker Harrison Mevis was cut in the middle of camp. The Panthers probably won’t find a better kicker than Piñeiro on the waiver wire.