Panthers' 2026 Free Agents, Targets and Draft Needs After NFL Playoff Loss

The Carolina Panthers' rise to the top of the NFC South was one of the most surprising developments of the 2025 NFL season. Few expected the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to relinquish the division after opening the year 6-2. However, their collapse gave the Panthers an opening.

Carolina took full advantage.

The Panthers needed help to win the division, and they didn't even finish with a winning record. However, they did show growth throughout the regular season, which led to their first playoff berth since 2017.

Along the way, Bryce Young continued to make improvements under head coach Dave Canales, while Carolina's defense took positive steps, and the Panthers discovered a dangerous ground game. While their postseason may be over after Saturday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams, there are plenty of positives upon which to build in the 2026 offseason.

There's also quite a bit of work to be done in the coming months. Free agency will open on March 11, and the NFL draft is slated to begin on April 23. The Panthers will need to navigate the entire offseason successfully if they hope to take the proverbial next step in 2026.

Here's a look at what's ahead for Canales, general manager Dan Morgan, and the Panthers.

Free Agents

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Panthers RB Rico Dowdle

Unrestricted Free Agents

S D'Anthony Bell

G Brady Christensen

OL Austin Corbett

G Jake Curhan

RB Rico Dowdle

CB Akayleb Evans

LS J.J. Jansen

P Sam Martin

CB Damarri Mathis

C Cade Mays

OT Yosh Nijman

DL LaBryan Ray

LB Christian Rozeboom

S Nick Scott

LB Isaiah Simmons

LB D.J. Wonnum

Restricted/Exclusive-Rights Free Agents

LB Claudin Cherelus

WR Jalen Coker

Edge Thomas Incoom

TE James Mitchell

WR Bryce Tremayne

Morgan will have a few tough decisions to make this offseason, though he should be able to bring back most of Carolina's key free agents. The Panthers are projected to have $39.8 million in cap space, which puts them right in the middle of the league's salary cap hierarchy.

Maintaining continuity along the offensive line will probably be a top priority this offseason. Cade Mays took over at center and played well enough that Austin Corbett moved to right guard once healthy.

Corbett may be viewed as expendable with Robert Hunt on the roster, but Carolina will want to retain one of its top center options—with the 26-year-old Mays serving as Option A.

Yosh Nijman and Brady Christensen are valuable depth pieces and strong candidates to re-sign as well.

Morgan will have to consider bringing back Rico Dowdle, even with Chuba Hubbard on a long-term deal. Dowdle's emergence played a big role in Carolina's surge to a division title.

Defensively, the Panthers have several important contributors to prioritize, including safety Nick Scott and linebackers D.J. Wonnum, Christian Rozeboom, and Claudin Cherelus. Specialists Sam Martin and J.J. Jansen could also be retained for another season, though it wouldn't be a shock to see either replaced with a younger option this offseason.

Potential Free-Agent/Trade Targets

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Ravens TE Isaiah Likely

The Panthers should have enough cap space to make a few moves in the free-agent and trade markets, even after re-signing their own players. It wouldn't be a total surprise to see Morgan angle for a splash trade after seeing his roster finally break through with a playoff season.

Carolina may try to target a big name on an expiring contract like Patrick Queen, Marlon Humphrey, or Minkah Fitzpatrick. If a star like Las Vegas Raiders pass-rusher Maxx Crosby becomes available, the Panthers will certainly kick the tires on a trade as well.

In free agency, the Panthers should largely look to backfill any positions they don't reload beforehand. If Mays and Corbett both get away, for example, guys like Connor McGovern and Tyler Linderbaum will be on their radar.

Linebackers like Lavonte David, Matt Milano, Quay Walker, and Devin Lloyd will also be logical free-agent targets, depending on who Morgan is able to retain.

Don't be surprised if the Panthers go after a high-profile tight end as well. Tommy Tremble led all Panthers tight ends with only 249 receiving yards in 2025. Fortunately, the 2026 free-agent class, headlined by Kyle Pitts, Isaiah Likely, David Njoku, and Dallas Goedert, is deep at the position.

The Panthers may also look to bolster their receiver depth, even though they have promising young wideouts in Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, and Xavier Legette. Adding a complementary veteran like Romeo Doubs, Jauan Jennings, or Wan'Dale Robinson would make plenty of sense.

If Dowdle departs, running backs like Najee Harris, Kenneth Gainwell, and J.K. Dobbins would be strong candidates to pair with Hubbard.

Draft Targets

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Oregon TE prospect Kenyon Sadiq

The Panthers appear to have a good, young foundation, and they'll look to add more long-term building blocks in April's draft. Morgan is set to have eight draft picks with which to work, and he should prioritize positional value over immediate needs.

Of course, the Panthers could get both by adding a talented pass-catching tight end early in the draft. The Bleacher Report Scouting Department paired Carolina with Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq in its post-regular season mock draft:

"Sadiq is one of the class' most ferocious blockers regardless of position," Daniel Harms of the B/R Scouting Department said. "The 20-year-old prospect can play in-line, as a detached blocker or as a receiver. He's also an athletic playmaker in space to create after the catch."

Expect prospects like Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley and Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles to also interest Carolina in Round 1, while tight end prospects like Texas' Jack Endries and Ohio State's Max Klare loom as Day-2 targets.

The list of other prospects that are likely to intrigue the Panthers on Day 2 includes Missouri edge-rusher Zion Young, Louisville wideout Chris Bell, Indiana safety Louis Moore, Penn State running back Kaytron Allen, Florida interior lineman Jake Slaughter, and Auburn interior lineman Connor Lew.

Expect Morgan to target developmental prospects like BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker, Oklahoma defensive lineman Gracen Halton, SMU receiver Romello Brinson, and Oregon cornerback Jadon Canady on Day 3.

The Panthers may also target a developmental quarterback late in the draft or in undrafted free agency. Young played well enough in 2025 that Carolina should feel comfortable moving forward with him as QB1. However, it never hurts to have insurance, and veteran backup Andy Dalton is entering a contract year.

*Cap, contract and free-agent status information via Spotrac. Draft information via Tankathon