In 2024, the Carolina Panthers missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year but ended the season with optimism for the future. Bryce Young gave the franchise reason to believe in his potential, providing General Manager Dan Morgan with a clear direction for the 2025 offseason.
While their 5-12 record doesn’t seem impressive, the Panthers showed improvement in the second half of the season, losing three one-score games to playoff-bound teams. This late-season surge was the best stretch of performances the Panthers had in nearly a decade.
Young wasn’t the only player to show promise in 2024. Rookies Xavier Legette, Ja’Tavion Sanders, and Jalen Coker all provided reasons to be hopeful for the offense’s future.
However, the defense was the team’s major issue, especially toward the end of the season when Young found his rhythm. The Panthers finished the year with a bottom-tier passing defense and were last in the league against the run. Opposing running backs dominated their defensive front, highlighting the need for a major overhaul in that area during the offseason.
With the No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Morgan has room to improve the roster. To continue building on their progress, the Panthers need to be active in the trade market as well, just as they were in 2024.
With newfound direction, Carolina must seize the opportunity to strengthen their roster in the 2025 offseason.
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