Prentice had a decent freshman season at Alabama with a 31-337-2 line over 13 games, but he never really progressed from there, topping out at 380 yards and six touchdowns as a senior at Baylor. He's undersized (5-foot-10, 184 pounds) but showcased 4.37 40-yard dash at his pro day, and he'll need to make an impact on special teams to have a chance at the 53-man roster.

The anticipated move will keep the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft under contract with Carolina through the 2027 season. The 24-year-old is coming off a career year in 2025, during which he set new highs in passing yards (3,011), TDs (23), completion percentage (63.6) and passer rating (87.8), among other other categories, over the course of 16 regular-season contests. Since then, the Panthers signed Kenny Pickett to back up Young and added deep threat Chris Brazzell in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, providing Young a player with upside to fortify a WR corps that returns Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette.

Brooks said he feels "close to 100 percent" after tearing his right ACL for the second time in Week 14 of the 2024 campaign. Brooks missed the entirety of 2025 but appears ready to contribute this season. The offseason has set up nicely for Brooks to have a significant role after Rico Dowdle left in free agency, leaving only Chuba Hubbard ahead of him on the depth chart. AJ Dillon was added as well, but he's barely played over the last two seasons, and Trevor Etienne mainly played special teams as a rookie in 2025.

Legette, a 2024 first-round pick, is coming off a disappointing Year 2 campaign in which he totaled just a 35-353-3 line (64 targets) across 15 regular-season appearances, lower totals than not only Tetairoa McMillan, the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year, but also Jalen Coker, who logged just 11 regular-season appearances. As such, Legette projects as no better than the No. 3 WR for QB Bryce Young in 2026, and his role as a deep threat could be challenged by Brazzell, who boasts 4.37 speed and a 6-foot-4 frame. This offseason will be crucial for Legette, as his already marginal fantasy value will take a steep hit if Brazzell is able to encroach on reps in three-wide sets alongside McMillan and Coker.

Kuwatch transferred from Ohio State to Miami (Ohio) in 2023, but he didn't become a full-time starter on defense until his senior year in 2025, when he was named to the All-MAC Third-Team after logging 109 total tackles, including 5.0 sacks, and one pass defense across 14 games. Kuwatch served as the RedHawks' middle linebacker, and his experience on special teams during his five-year college career could help him earn a spot on the Panthers' 53-man roster for the 2026 season. He'll enter the offseason program and training camp competing for a depth spot at inside linebacker against the likes of Claudin Cherelus, Bam Martin-Scott and Isaiah Simmons.

Wheatley (6-foot-3, 203 pounds) started the final two seasons of his five years at Penn State, demonstrating the versatility and physicality to make up for his lack of high-end speed (4.62 40-yard dash). As a rookie, Wheatley and 2025 pick Lathan Ransom figure to operate as Carolina's top reserve options at safety behind Tre'von Moehrig and Nick Scott. Wheatley boasts the experience to contribute in a rotational role during his first pro season under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

Hecht only emerged as starter in his fourth and fifth seasons at Kansas State, but he played very well from that point and otherwise logged pre-draft athletic testing with mostly good results. At 6-foot-4, 303 pounds Hecht has only an average frame by center standards, though, and his 31 and 5/8-inch arms grade as only 13th percentile among centers, according to Mockdraftable. Second-round pick Logan Jones of the Bears had even shorter arms yet, but Jones is something like a 90th-percentile athlete at center while Hecht is probably only something more like a 65th-percentile athlete at center. Either way, there's still a plenty good chance Hecht emerges as an average or better starting center for Carolina, including potentially as soon as 2026. Luke Fortner is the only competition otherwise, and Hecht might be better as a rookie.

Lee (6-foot-2, 189 pounds) is a bit light and might have below-average speed for a starting corner (4.52-second 40), but he has excellent reach for press coverage (32 and 3/4-inch arms) and stood out as starter for Texas A&M the last two years. Lee had to work his way up from Iowa Western Community College (2021-22) and Kansas State (2023) before that, holding serve with each jump in competition. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is one of the best defensive backs coaches in the league, so Lee landed in a good spot.

Brazzell posted an impressive 4.37-second 40-yard dash time at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, and that speed — coupled with a 6-foot-4 frame — served him well during his four-year college career. He spent his final two years in Tennessee and was named to both the All-American Third-Team and All-SEC First-Team in 2025 after catching 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns across 12 games. Brazzell has no trouble getting to top speed, making him a dangerous deep threat that can win any jump ball, though his route-running tree and run blocking will both need to improve at the NFL level. With 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan leading the Panthers' pass-catching group, Brazzell's main competition for targets from QB Bryce Young will come from Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette.

Carolina traded up to the 49th overall pick with Minnesota in order to draft Hunter (6-foot-3, 318 pounds), an indication that the team considers upgrading from incumbent nose tackle Bobby Brown. There are no questions about Hunter's size or ability to stuff the run, but his lack of explosiveness — having posted the worst vertical of the 2026 NFL Combine (21.5 inches) — gesture toward limitations as a pass rusher. Hunter will turn 24 years old in advance of training camp and boasts the collegiate experience to contribute right out of the gate as a rookie.

Freeling (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) might be more potential than polish after starting just one year at Georgia, but that one year was promising to the point that this selection looks like a steal for the Panthers. Carolina might be unsure of what to expect in the recovery process for Ikem Ekwonu (patellar tendon), and the otherwise excellent Taylor Moton at right tackle will turn 32 in August. As much as Freeling played left tackle at Georgia and can easily project there in the NFL, Freeling could just as easily play on the right side.

Grier will sign on as the Panthers' third-string QB, behind Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett, providing the team with positional depth in advance of the 2026 NFL Draft. A 2019 third-round pick, Grier hasn't logged any regular-season action since he made two appearances as a rookie with Carolina.

Tremayne will officially return to Carolina for at least another season after being tendered by the club in early March. The 26-year-old was a regular part of the offense for the first time as a pro last year, tallying 14 catches for 160 yards over 262 offensive snaps spanning 16 regular-season games. He also played regularly on special teams and likely will retain the same role as a depth wideout and special-teamer during the upcoming season.

Coker was tendered by Carolina in early March and made his return to the team official Monday. The 24-year-old posted a 33-394-3 receiving line over 11 regular-season contests last year, nearly replicating his stats from his rookie 2024 campaign. However, Coker exploded for a 9-134-1 line in the Panthers' wild-card round loss to the Rams, and he could take another step forward as one of QB Bryce Young's top targets during the upcoming campaign.

Sanders is recovering from surgery undergone to address a broken right fibula suffered late December. Across 13 regular-season appearances last year, the 2024 fourth-round pick secured 29 of 34 targets for 190 yards and one touchdown. Unless Carolina makes significant additions to the TE position in the 2026 NFL Draft or via free-agent signings, Sanders and Tommy Tremble will be positioned again operate as the team's top options at tight end.

A fifth-round pick in 2023 by the Rams, Hampton appeared in 36 regular-season games across three seasons with Los Angeles. He recorded 17 tackles (eight solo) and a pair of pass breakups, working mainly on special teams.

It's a homecoming for Franks after he spent the 2024 season with Carolina before spending the 2025 campaign with the Falcons. A special-teams stalwart, Franks appeared in all 17 regular-season contests last season, recording 11 tackles (eight solo) on 299 snaps in kick coverage.

Dillon spent last year handling a depth role for the Eagles, logging 12 carries for 60 yards and three catches for 21 yards across seven regular-season appearances. Now with Carolina, Dillon figures to compete for a reserve role and short-yardage work behind incumbent starter Chuba Hubbard, with Jonathon Brooks (knee) and Trevor Etienne already battling for touches. Dillon lacks a clear path to fantasy relevance for the 2026 campaign.

Martin appeared in all 17 regular-season games for the Panthers in 2025 and averaged 47.2 yards per punt. He landed 27 of his 56 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line, which was ninth best in the NFL.

Gipson signed with the Panthers in late October after being cut by the 49ers. He appeared in nine regular-season games for Carolina while playing on both defense and special teams, finishing with 12 tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sack. Gipson will have an opportunity to earn an expanded role on defense for the 2026 season, though he'll likely see most of his snaps on special teams.

Scott started all 17 regular-season games for Carolina last year, recording a career-best 111 tackles along with three defensed passes (including an interception). He also played every defensive snap during the team's wild-card loss to the Rams and racked up nine stops. Scott should reprise his starting role at safety alongside Tre'von Moehrig in 2026.

Walker has started 48 games across the last three regular seasons and operated as the Packers' left tackle during the 2025 campaign, playing all 1,057 of his offensive snaps at the position. He gives the Panthers a capable option should Ikem Ekwonu (knee) not be recovered from a torn patellar tendon that he suffered in Carolina's wild-card loss to the Rams in January.

The 27-year-old has appeared in 27 regular-season games (six starts) for the Panthers over the last two seasons, recording 60 total tackles and one pass defensed. Following his new deal with Carolina, Cherelus is expected to operate as one of the team's top reserve inside linebackers during the 2026 season.

A 2022 second-round pick, Metchie spent time with three different teams during the length of his rookie contract after missing the 2022 season to recover from cancer. He'll now reunite with college teammate Bryce Young, likely competing for a depth role at wide receiver behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker.

Mitchell will continue to provide depth in a tight end room that also houses Ja'Tavion Sanders (lower leg), Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans. Across five regular-season games in 2025, Mitchell secured all three of his targets for 28 yards.