The Panthers’ head coach and QB duo are likely on the hot seat entering the 2026 season as the pairing has failed to win a playoff game yet. QB Bryce Youg has not yet lived up to his #1 overall pick potential and offensive minded head coach Dave Canales has failed to get the most out of him as Young has not played well for the most part under Canales. The roster that those two have had to work with has been questionable in large part in addition to it and it will need to improve for the Panthers to make progress in the Young/Canales era. Here I will go into detail assessing the skill position grouping of Carolina as the 2026 season approaches.
At running back, the Panthers have some talent but some question marks as well heading into the 2026 season. Chuba Hubbard is currently listed as the #1 back of the team entering the 2026 season and is a strong player who has had his inconsistencies, however. Hubbard, after struggling as a rookie, graded in the above average to well above average range in terms of an overall offense grade among players at his position according to Pro Football Focus for three straight years after. However, Hubbard regressed during this past 2025 season, grading in the below average range among his peers. Hubbard will be on the board to bounce back during the 2026 season; Hubbard has always been a strong runner of the football but has consistently struggled to be a strong pass catcher out of the backfield. Hubbard in my estimation is better suited as a high end #2 back as opposed to being a true #1 back, but he remains in the leading halfback role for the Panthers as of now.
The Panthers have decent depth out of the backfield to supplement Hubbard as they have three players who all may end up being just as good if not better than Hubbard. 2024 2nd rounder Jonathan Brooks was drafted quite highly for a running back and has not had the chance to log any meaningful snaps in the NFL as of yet. Perhaps as Brooks gets more action he can live up to his high draft billing and potentially take the leading halfback role from Hubbard. 2025 4th rounder Trevor Etienne had a decent rookie year and is now in line to build off of it going forward. While the team also added veteran former 2nd rounder AJ Dillon at running back who barely played in 2025 and did not play in 2024, but before that was a borderline elite player at the position. From 2020 to 2023 Pro Football Focus graded Dillon in the well above average range among players at his position on a year in year out basis, while he even warranted being graded as the second best overall running back in the NFL one year. The Panthers have one of the deepest running back rooms in the NFL although I question if they have the high-end talent in the unit, although they certainly could find that high end level of play.
At tight end the Panthers have many question marks, and the unit is one of the weakest in the sport as of now. 2021 third rounder Tommy Tremble is the first player on the Panthers’ depth chart as of now and has consistently graded in the well below average range among his peers on a year in year out basis. 2024 4th rounder Jatavion Sanders is second on the depth chart and has consistently been poor in limited NFL action in two years. 2025 5th rounder Mitchell Evans is perhaps the brightest spot in the unit as of now coming off a strong rookie season that he is in line to build off of. Evans graded in the above average range among his peers despite being a rookie, no small feat. The Panthers have a highly questionable tight end unit that as of now ranks among the weakest in the NFL, however, the team is optimistic that either Evans or two of the former 3rd/4th rounders can provide them with at least solid play.
At wide out the Panthers have one of the most talented and underrated units in the sport today. 2025 1st rounder Tetairoa McMillan is the leading wide out on the roster as of now after coming off a remarkable rookie season. McMillan was taken in the top 10 of the draft which is rare for a wide receiver to be taken that high. McMillan had a remarkable rookie season winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, McMillian is in line to become a superstar at the wide out spot for years to come in the NFL. The Panthers also have strong players to complement McMillan in the unit as well. 2024 undrafted free agent Jalen Coker has consistently graded as an above average player, although only slightly so, in each of his first two NFL seasons. Although 2024 1st rounder Xavier Legette has really underwhelmed in the NFL thus far, he was still a first round pick who might still have time to blossom and reach his potential. The Panthers drafted wide out Chris Brazzell quite high in the 3rd round of the 2026 draft after he received first team All-SEC honors in 2025, playing in likely the toughest conference in the country. While the likes of 2022 2nd rounder John Metchie III was taken very highly, and although he has underwhelmed thus far, he still perhaps can come into his own.
The Panthers have a talented grouping of skill position players that have what it takes to form an elite grouping heading into the 2026 season. The Panthers easily could have one of the premier if not the premier wide receiver room in the NFL in 2026, while they have one of the deepest running back units that high end talent could eventually emerge from, although the tight end unit is weak as of now, it could be solid next season. A breakdown of the Panthers’ skill position grouping heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
2026 Panthers’ Notable Wide Receivers
WR – Tetairoa McMillan – 2025 1st rounder, B to B+ as rookie, 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year
WR – Jalen Coker – B
WR – Xavier Legette – D+ so far as 2024 1st rounder
WR – Chris Brazzell II – 2026 3rd rounder, First Team All-SEC in 2025
WR – John Metchie III – 2022 2nd rounder, D+ to C-
WR – Jimmy Horn Jr – 2025 6th rounder, C as rookie
WR – Dan Chisena – B-, but only 3 career receptions
2026 Panthers’ Notable Tight Ends
TE – Tommy Tremble – C-, 2021 3rd rounder
TE – Jatavion Sanders – D+ to C-, 2024 4th rounder
TE – Mitchell Evans – 2025 5th rounder, B- in limited rookie snaps
2026 Panthers’ Notable Running Backs
HB – Chuba Hubbard – B to B-
HB – Jonathan Brooks – 2024 2nd rounder, only 4 career rush attempts and 3 career receptions
HB – Trevor Etienne – 2025 4th rounder, C as rookie
HB – AJ Dillon – B+, could grade higher but has hardly played for two seasons
