Panthers Rumors: Bucs' Dave Canales Among 4-5 Candidates Carolina Likes in HC Search

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales is reportedly among the Carolina Panthers' preferred candidates in their ongoing head coaching search.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Canales is one of "four or five" candidates whom the Panthers are "really high on."

Fowler also mentioned Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as coaches on Carolina's radar.

Canales, 42, spent 13 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks under head coach Pete Carroll from 2010 through 2022 as a wide receivers coach, quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator before getting the OC opportunity in Tampa.

The Bucs only ranked 23rd in total offense and 20th in scoring this season, but Canales got career years out of multiple players, including quarterback Baker Mayfield, who completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Mayfield also threw for 337 yards, three touchdowns and no picks in an upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

Ironically, Mayfield had the worst season of his career in 2022 with the Panthers, as he went 1-5 as a starter and completed 57.8 percent of his passes for 1,313 yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions before they waived him.

Given how Canales was able to resurrect Mayfield's career, it is no wonder that the Panthers have an interest in Canales coming in to work with quarterback Bryce Young.

Carolina used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft to select Young, and he had a shaky rookie year, completing 59.8 percent of his passing attempts for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for the 2-15 Panthers.

Young had to deal with a coaching change in the middle of the season, as Frank Reich was fired amid his first season as Carolina's head coach.

The young quarterback and the Panthers as a whole would likely benefit from some stability, as they have had six different full-time or interim head coaches over the past five seasons.

Aside from Canales, both Monken and Johnson make sense as potential head coaches for Carolina due to the work they did offensively this season as well.

With Monken calling the plays in Baltimore, the Ravens secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a spot in the AFC Championship Game, plus quarterback Lamar Jackson is the likely NFL MVP.

Johnson helped get the Lions to the NFC Championship Game as well, and he got big years out of quarterback Jared Goff, running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta.

However, the Panthers won't be able to interview Monken until after this week, and Fowler noted that he hasn't "heard much momentum" regarding Johnson and the Panthers.

If Carolina wants to remain in-house with its hire, Evero is a strong candidate based on what he did with the defense this season.

Despite the Panthers being the worst team in the NFL, they ranked fourth in total defense, and Evero is a big reason why.

It is unclear if Evero would be able to hire the right offensive staff to get Young on the right track, though, which could result in the Panthers leaning toward an offensive hire like Canales.