The Panthers had an underrated defense during the 2025 season that carried them to upset wins over the likes of the Packers and Rams, allowed them to win their division, and allowed them to hold a late lead at home in the playoffs vs the eventual conference finalists Rams. Heading into next season the front seven has the potential to be elite as the team made multiple key additions in the likes of Devin Lloyd, Jaelan Phillips, and Lee Hunter. The secondary must also hold up its end of the bargain as well and here I will go into detail assessing the secondary of the Panthers as the 2026 season approaches.
Veteran cornerback Mike Jackson is set to start at the first primary cornerback spot for the team and is a very strong player at the position who last season emerged as one of the premier corners in the sport. Jackson in the first two seasons of play outside of his essential rookie year looked very good grading in the above average to well above average range in terms of an overall defense grade among players at his position according to Pro Football Focus. Jackson then in 2025 had a breakout season where he was graded as the fourth best overall cornerback in the NFL. It remains to be seen if he can keep it up going forward, but from a worst case scenario standpoint, he is a very strong NFL starter who could prove to be an elite one eventually.
2021 2nd rounder Tre’von Moehrig is set to start at the strong safety spot for Carolina and as a former high draft pick has had his high points but his inconsistencies. Moehrig has graded in the above average to well above average range among players at his position in four of five seasons in the NFL but graded poorly in the remaining year. Moehrig has never shown an electric ceiling either although playing at an above average clip most of the time, Moehrig is a solid starter in the secondary but certainly not a star.
At free safety veteran Nick Scott is set to start for the team who is coming off a career year. Scott in his first six seasons in the NFL struggled with regularity but had a career year in 2025. The 2025 season was only the second season where Scott was able to put together a full season of snaps and he came into his own. Prior to the 2025 season, Scott consistently graded in the below average to poor range among his peers but graded in the above average range during the 2025 season. His strong play in 2025 could be a sign of things to come as one could view 2025 as essentially his second season in the NFL as a starter, where players typically come into their own.
Set to start at the other primary cornerback spot is 2021 1st rounder Jaycee Horn who has lived up to his high draft billing from time to time but has lacked consistency. Horn in his first four seasons in the NFL graded in the above average to well above average range among his peers with regularity, including one season where he graded as the fourth best overall cornerback in the NFL albeit in limited snaps. Horn however had a down year during the 2025 campaign where he graded below average among his peers and it remains to be seen if he can bounce back from it.
The starting nickel cornerback spot is the weakest link as of now in Carolina’s secondary and it will need to be better heading into next year for the Panthers. 2024 5th rounder Chau Smith-Wade is set to start for the Panthers at the position as of now and has consistently graded in the below average range thus far in the NFL. However, he did show improvement from year 1 to year 2 and has yet had the chance to put together a full season of snaps thus far in the NFL.
From a depth standpoint in the secondary the Panthers lack talent as they have several unproven players in their secondary reserve unit as of now. Although 2025 4th round safety Lathan Ransom looked solid as a rookie and is in line to potentially build off it. Cornerback Corey Thornton has looked strong in about one games worth of snaps as a 2025 undrafted free agent, and safety Demani Richardson looked very strong in about one games worth of snaps outside of his rookie season. Those three players in particular will be tasked to provide depth and to potentially step into the starting lineup given some of the concerns that the Panthers currently have. A breakdown of the Carolina secondary heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
Projected 2026 Panthers’ Starting Secondary
LCB – Mike Jackson – B+ to A-, could grade higher, career year in 2025 where he ranked among top corners in NFL
SS – Tre’von Moehrig – B-, 2021 2nd rounder
FS – Nick Scott – C+, could grade higher, above average in second season taking starter snaps in 2025
RCB – Jaycee Horn – B to B+, down year in 2025,
NB – Chau Smith-Wade – C, 2024 5th rounder, still improving, has yet to put together a full season of snaps
Notable 2026 Panthers’ Secondary Reserves
S – Lathan Ransom – 2025 4th rounder, C as rookie
CB – Corey Thornton – B to B+ in 27 career snaps as 2025 undrafted free agent
S – Demani Richardson – C+, could be higher, well above average in about one games worth of snaps in only season outside of rookie year
