Top 10 Carolina Panthers Players Going Into the 2025-26 Season

I feel like the Panthers could surprise a lot of people this year. This is a young, up-and-coming team filled with under-the-radar talent. There's definitely potential for several players to break out.

I'm not sure how good they'll be, but I could see them performing much better than they did in 2024-25. They certainly improved during the second half of the season, and it's clear progress has been made, slowly but surely.

Here's the thing: this team will go as far as Bryce Young takes them. They still have a few unknowns, but I believe they have the potential to win seven or eight games. Mark my words, this team is finishing at least third in the division.

The Top Ten

Derrick Brown

Derrick Brown is a highly regarded defensive lineman. He's a strong run defender and a true tackling machine. I wouldn't call him a premier pass rusher, but he's still a disruptive threat in the interior line and a key contributor for the Panthers defense.
In 2023, he broke the league record for most tackles by a defensive lineman with 103. His pass-rushing abilities are just okay, but he's exceptional at stopping the run.
Brown has really become a true leader on the Panthers defense. His 90.1 overall PFF grade in 2023 ranked 4th among defensive linemen. Unfortunately, he missed nearly the entire 2024 season due to injury. But he should be healthy again and should return to form in 2025.
He's clearly the best player Carolina has right now. They'll need him back at full strength to have any chance of success.
Jaycee Horn

Jaycee Horn is a highly talented cornerback with good size and speed. He excels in run defense and is good in coverage. He can lock down any opposing wide receivers.
Horn was excellent in 2024. At one point, he was arguably a top 5 cornerback in the league. He had his best season statistically last year with 68 combined tackles, 49 solo tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback hits, 2 sacks, and an interception, earning him a Pro Bowl selection.
My only real concern is his injury history. The consistency hasn't quite been there yet. He's great when healthy, but he's also injury-prone, and his absence is definitely felt. Promise he can stay healthy, and he's top 5 cornerback in the league good.
Chuba Hubbard

Chuba Hubbard has really emerged as a great NFL running back. I think he's pushing being a top 10 running back in the league right now.
He's not really known for his pass-catching ability, but his rushing abilities are solid. He has really improved his consistency and production. Having a breakout 2024 season, he finished with 1,195 yards, ranking 8th in the NFL, and 10 rushing touchdowns, finishing top 15 in the league.
He should continue to dominate the Panthers run game, getting the majority of the workload, making him a decent option for Fantasy Football. Hubbard is one of the more underrated running backs in the league in all honesty.
Taylor Moton

Moton has been a very consistent and reliable player for the Panthers for a long time. He's been a decent right tackle and played in 120 consecutive games, setting a Panthers franchise record, including 104 starts. His streak ended in 2024 due to a triceps injury.
Moton is easily the most underappreciated player on the Panthers roster. Moton has been the steady pillar for the Panthers offensive line for nearly a decade. He is entering the final year of his contract, and considering his age, who knows if he'll be around after this season.
I could see the Panthers extending him with how consistent he's been. Either way, Moton is one of the most underrated players in the league.
Damien Lewis

Damien Lewis has been very good as an offensive guard. He left Seattle and coincidentally became one of the best players in the league at his position. PFF ranks him as a top 15 guard in their latest rankings.
Last season, he received a 75.5 overall grade from PFF, the best of his career. Lewis has shown to be effective in both run blocking and pass blocking. He's also very versatile and can perform well in multiple different schemes. He's seen as a leader and has helped improve the offensive line as a whole.
So far, Lewis has flourished in Carolina and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Tre'von Moehrig

Moehrig is generally considered a solid cornerback. He's very versatile and is generally solid all around with good tackling and coverage skills.
He may be a little inconsistent at times, but he can still impact the defense in a variety of ways and was generally a valuable asset to the Raiders defense and now the Panthers. Statistically, Moehrig had his best year as a pro in 2024. He finished with 2 interceptions, 1.0 sack, 104 combined tackles, 64 solo tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 3 quarterback hits.
Honestly, with how reliable and durable he is, Moehrig is generally underrated and could have a breakout season in 2025.
Tetairoa McMillan

Maybe an unpopular opinion here, but I actually like this pick. It's been a while since the Panthers have had a true WR1. McMillan was largely considered the best wide receiver in this draft class. He should round out that Panthers wide receiver room nicely.
McMillan has excellent size, giving him a massive advantage to catch the ball and win contested catch situations. He has good hands and is very athletic. He finished last season with 1,300+ yards and 8 touchdowns at Arizona, earning All-American honors.
Sure, there is some pressure on Tetairoa to succeed. I think he's just fine and going into a generally favorable situation. The Panthers have a young, up-and-coming team. Bryce Young has shown some improvement, and Adam Thielen should be a good mentor.
Overall, I think this guy has plenty of upside, and if you're a Panthers fan, you should be excited about him.
Robert Hunt

Robert Hunt has been highly regarded as an offensive lineman. He's been one of the best run blockers in the league. He's been steady and consistent for years, and he earned a Pro Bowl spot this past season.
He should immediately bolster and improve the offensive line. Decent offensive linemen aren't easy to come by. If Bryce Young is going to have any chance of success, it's a good idea to protect him by investing in the offensive line.
Hunt should be in Carolina for the foreseeable future. PFF gave him a 67.7 overall grade in 2024, ranking middle of the pack.
Bryce Young

I think Bryce Young is poised to have a better season in 2025. He's shown significant improvement in his career, especially in the latter half of the 2024 season.
However, I think he still has to prove himself a little more. This upcoming season will be very critical to determining his future. I think there's hype and definitely some reason for optimism. He's at least not the deer in headlights anymore.
I do think he'll develop more this upcoming season and could very well be a top 20 quarterback in the league. But I'll believe it when I see it. 2025 should theoretically be his breakout season the Panthers have been waiting for.
Ikem Ekwonu

Ikem has been genuinely solid as a left tackle. I wouldn't say he's elite necessarily, but he's been above average, which is all you can really ask for. I'd give him a B grade overall. PFF gave him a 71.7 overall grade for the 2024 season, which is about average, maybe slightly above.
He's a reliable and consistent run blocker, although his pass-blocking skills leave something to be desired. I'd say he's average at best in that department. He's still young and still has time to develop.
It's tough to hate him really. Left tackle is such an important position, even being average is big. It could be a lot worse. The Panthers should be thanking their lucky stars they didn't take Evan Neal. Ikem is much better in comparison and definitely passable. He's going to have to step it up though if the Panthers want to take that next step forward.