Honestly, looking at the Panthers depth chart 2024 is a bit like staring at a massive construction site. You see the foundation, you see the expensive new materials, but you’re still not 100% sure if the house is going to stay standing when the wind picks up. After a 2023 season that felt like a slow-motion car crash, the 2024 roster was basically a frantic attempt to give Bryce Young some actual help before the kid completely lost his confidence.
Dave Canales stepped in as the "quarterback whisperer," and the front office went out and spent money like they were trying to buy a new reputation. But if you just look at the names on the paper, you might miss the weirdly specific way this team was built to survive the NFC South.
The Bryce Young Project and the Offensive Overhaul
Everything in the Panthers depth chart 2024 started and ended with number 9. The benching of Bryce Young early in the season for Andy Dalton was the headline everyone saw, but the depth behind that move is what's interesting. When Dalton had that car accident in October, Young had to step back into a room that had finally started to gel.
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Young’s turnaround—throwing 12 touchdowns against just 3 picks in his final eight games—didn't happen in a vacuum. It happened because the protection didn't suck anymore.
The $150 Million Wall
The Panthers decided that the best way to help a short quarterback was to make sure he wasn't running for his life every three seconds. They went out and grabbed Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis for the interior of the line.
- Left Tackle: Ikem Ekwonu (The "please don't let him get blindside hit" anchor)
- Left Guard: Damien Lewis
- Center: Cade Mays (who took over after Austin Corbett’s injuries shifted things around)
- Right Guard: Robert Hunt
- Right Tackle: Taylor Moton
It’s a massive group. Literally. We’re talking about guys who weigh 320+ pounds across the board. The goal was simple: create a pocket that actually looks like a pocket.
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Who is Bryce even throwing to?
The receiver room was a mess of "what ifs." You had Diontae Johnson coming in to be the separation guy, while Adam Thielen played the role of the reliable older brother who still knows how to find the sticks on 3rd and 8.
Then you have the rookies. Xavier Legette is a physical freak from South Carolina, and he eventually worked his way into a starting role, finishing with 497 yards. But the real surprise? Jalen Coker. An undrafted guy from Holy Cross who ended up becoming a legitimate weapon. By the end of the year, the "starting" trio was often Legette, Thielen, and Coker, especially with Jonathan Mingo struggling to find a consistent rhythm.
The Ejiro Evero Defense: Holding it Together with Tape
If the offense was a high-priced renovation, the defense was more of a "do more with less" situation. Ejiro Evero is basically a magician. Despite the team giving up an NFL-record 534 points (ouch), the individual parts of the Panthers depth chart 2024 defense actually played pretty well in spots.
The Stars and the "Who?"
Derrick Brown is the sun that the rest of the defense orbits. He set an NFL record for tackles by a defensive lineman (103), which is just absurd. He’s the only reason the run defense didn't completely disintegrate.
- Jaycee Horn (CB): When he’s healthy, he’s a Pro Bowler. He played 15 games in 2024, which is a minor miracle given his history.
- Jadeveon Clowney (OLB): The veteran presence who still had enough juice to put up 5.5 sacks.
- Trevin Wallace (LB): A rookie who had to step up when Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell dealt with injuries. He ended up with 63 tackles and showed he might be the future of the linebacker core.
The secondary was a revolving door of sorts. Mike Jackson came over from Seattle and actually led the team (tied) in passes defensed. Meanwhile, Xavier Woods was the glue at safety, leading the team with 119 tackles. You don't usually want your safety leading the team in tackles—it means the front seven is letting too many guys through—but Woods was everywhere.
Running Backs: A Two-Headed Monster?
The Panthers depth chart 2024 at running back was supposed to be the Jonathon Brooks show. But because the rookie was recovering from an ACL tear, Chuba Hubbard just... kept the job. And he didn't just keep it; he crushed it.
Hubbard finished with nearly 1,200 yards on the ground. He’s not the flashiest runner, but he’s incredibly "stubborn," which matches Dave Canales' play-calling philosophy perfectly. By the time Rico Dowdle (a late-season addition who ended up being a steal) and Trevor Etienne got involved, the Panthers actually had a run game that teams had to respect.
Why the Depth Chart Actually Matters for 2025
The 2024 season was a bridge. It was about finding out if Bryce Young was a "bust" or just a victim of a bad environment. The way the depth chart shifted—moving from "veteran heavy" to "rookie reliant"—tells you everything you need to know about Dan Morgan's plan.
They aren't trying to win a Super Bowl tomorrow. They are trying to stop being the punchline of the NFL.
The Real "Key" Players
- Ja'Tavion Sanders (TE): He became a security blanket for Young. Before his season-ending injury, he caught 33 passes and looked like the most athletic tight end the Panthers have had since Greg Olsen.
- A'Shawn Robinson (DL): A massive human who actually led all defensive linemen in the league in total tackles (80).
- Eddy Piñeiro (K): Let's be real, in a season where you lose 12 games, the kicker is usually your best friend.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re tracking the Panthers depth chart 2024 for fantasy or just because you’re a glutton for punishment as a fan, keep your eyes on the young guys who filled in late.
- Watch the waiver wire for Jalen Coker. He’s the real deal and developed a weirdly good chemistry with Young in December.
- Monitor the health of the interior O-Line. If Hunt or Lewis miss time, the whole Bryce Young experiment starts to wobble again.
- Ignore the "Dalton vs. Young" debate. That’s over. The 2024 season proved that Young is the guy they are betting the house on.
The Panthers are still a work in progress. But for the first time in a few years, the depth chart doesn't look like a list of guys who are just happy to be there. It looks like a team that’s finally starting to figure out its own identity.
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Practical Insight: If you're betting or playing DFS, the Panthers' defense is actually better than the "Points Against" stat suggests. They stay on the field way too long because the offense struggles to sustain drives, leading to "fatigue scoring" in the 4th quarter. Look for them to be a sneaky "under" play in games where the opposing offense isn't elite.