Do the Carolina Panthers have the pieces to solve their playoff puzzle? NFL.com contributing columnist Adam Schein thinks they may.
On Wednesday, Schein named the five teams most likely to break their long postseason droughts. In at No. 5 are the Panthers, whose aggressive offseason could lead to immediate contention:
I love Bryce Young. The No. 1 overall pick displayed rare processing ability and pocket presence at Alabama — that’s the kind of stuff that translates to the NFL level, size concerns be damned. I also love Frank Reich. The head man put together an all-star coaching staff with numerous QB whisperers to foster Young’s development.
The offensive line isn’t bad, while the defense has immense upside with enticing talents at all three levels (SEE: OLB Brian Burns, DT Derrick Brown, LB Frankie Luvu, CB Jaycee Horn and S Jeremy Chinn). The thinnest area on the roster is at the offensive skill positions. This does concern me, given that Carolina is poised to start a rookie under center.
The Panthers did do quite a bit of work on those offensive skill positions this offseason—adding the likes of running back Miles Sanders and wideouts Adam Thielen, DJ Chark and second-round pick Jonathan Mingo. But that receiving group, while intriguing, is void of a clear No. 1 option for Young.
Nonetheless, Schein thinks it may not be too large of a roadblock towards a playoff berth—which would be their first since 2017:
I expect the Panthers to be brilliantly coached and take a step forward this year. They could be in the hunt for a wild-card spot in a watered-down NFC, but 2024 might be the real breakthrough year.
