...
By Anne Erickson
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The Carolina Panthers weren't bad in 2025. They weren't great, either.
It's that odd place of limbo, where they didn't need to clean house but also need to improve.
They did some needed things, like signing edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd to multi-year deals. They also got depth by bringing on quarterback Kenny Pickett and trading Andy Dalton to the Eagles.
Read More on NFL
Will it help them in 2026? That's the hope. Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report, though, is pointing out the challenges they face.
In his piece about offseason moves, he points out that "Phillips has never had more than 8.5 sacks in a season, and that was his rookie year in 2021. Lloyd picked off five passes and made the Pro Bowl last year, but he barely topped 80 total tackles."
He adds: "Big bucks don't equal sure bets, and if those acquisitions don't pay off then the Panthers could easily have the same issues defensively they did a year ago when they ranked in the bottom-half of the league in more statistical categories than not."
My Take: The Panthers Could Go Either Way in 2026
...
More sports news: Suns Blasted for NBA Draft Showing — But Are the Critics Too Harsh?
That's the worst-case scenario. But, it could go better than that.
Look. This is a team that was No. 1 in their division last season. Sure, they were 8-9, which is a very low record for a No. 1 team. But, they were still on top. They're obviously doing something right, and that means they've put some thought into their latest moves, despite the criticism.
More sports news: Celtics Get a Glowing Review for NBA Draft Picks — And They Deserve It
There's a good chance next season could work in their favor. There's no real reason to think it won't. But, if not, the questions will be about whether the team's money was well spent.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines