Carolina Panthers leaning on stability, growth in 2025

DONALD WATKINS | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Bryce Young's development over the final 10 games of the season solidified his position as the Carolina Panthers' quarterback of the future. Young completed 61.8% of his passes over that span for 2,104 yards and 15 touchdowns compared to six interceptions.

Now, the real work begins.

For the first time this decade, the Carolina Panthers appear to possess stability in the front office, on the sidelines and under center. With general manager Dan Morgan calling the shots, coach Dave Canales grooming a “finish strong” culture and quarterback Bryce Young coming into his own over the last two months after a Week 3 benching, the franchise’s dramatic rebuild may be entering its third act.

Coming off Sunday’s 44-38 overtime win against Atlanta, the Panthers finished 5-12 with one of the league’s all-time worst defenses, but unlike the past few years, there’s optimism.

“I’m not a rookie anymore, I’m onto Year 2 and we’re undefeated in 2025,” Canales joked at Monday’s season-closing press conference.

As players shuffled in and out of exit interviews and packed their belongings, Canales reflected on a season that started with a Week 1 beatdown by New Orleans, followed by injury after injury and ended on a high note by knocking the Falcons out of playoff contention.

“Great day to connect with all the guys,” Canales said. “It starts with gratitude for all the players that helped this year. From our scout team to the guys who played for us on Sunday to the guys who went on (injured reserve) at different points of the season, I was able to connect with all of them and express my appreciation.

“I think it’s important to recognize how hard of a job it is on these guys to show up seven days a week for six months. It’s a gift, but challenges come with it.”

Canales’ first season in Carolina wasn’t a smooth ride, but he pointed to the team’s “continued development” as cause for hope. As the offseason starts, his new focus is “finding what’s the next step for these players.”

DC Ejiro Evero coming back, despite results

An improved defense, for one.

The Panthers yielded 534 points, the most ever in an NFL campaign. They also surrendered 404.5 yards per game and 179.8 rushing yards per outing, both last in the league. Despite the results, Canales confirmed defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will return.

“We have a lot of things to evaluate over the next couple of days,” Canales said. “And then, certainly into the offseason, to reflect on our schemes, to reflect on our personnel, to reflect on the guys we have here going forward.”

Evero, who previously interviewed for head coaching positions, has one more year remaining on his contract. After inheriting the defensive staff from the short Frank Reich regime, Canales left the door open to potential changes among assistant coaches.

When asked about the arc of his first season as a head coach, Canales spotlighted recent progress – and relative stability – of the franchise.

“Honestly, just trying to keep the focus of the guys on the fundamentals of play,” he said. “It’s been a collaborative effort.”

At the beginning of each week during the season, Canales worked at filling the roster as the injured list grew with potential contributors. The Panthers dressed more players than any team.

The player evaluations seemed endless. Asked how he would evaluate his first season as head coach and second as a play-caller, Canales said: “I’m going to do a good self-scout right after the season is over and take a look at all the decisions. You know what you know and as new information comes, I try to be present with it and learn from different things and try to grow, take the weekly approach like I do with the players: ‘What do I need to get better at? What is my next step here?

“Just take it day by day. How can we improve processes? How can I continue to be engaged in all phases.”

Bryce Young rebounded after benching

The Panthers’ season likely will be remembered for Canales’ decision to bench Young after an 0-2 start. The 2023 first-overall draft pick looked hesitant and didn’t admit to it at the time, but the month he spent observing veteran Andy Dalton obviously paid dividends.  

As a rookie, Young went 2-14 as a starter and was sacked 62 times, the most in franchise history. In the first two games of 2024, Young completed just 55.4% of his pass attempts with zero touchdowns and three interceptions.

Over the final 10 games, Young proved to Canales he can be a franchise quarterback. After re-entering the starting lineup in Week 8, he completed 61.8% of his passes for 2,104 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. In the season finale, he accounted for five TDs (three passing) – a franchise first.

“I’m a believer that God handles all that, and God doesn’t make mistakes,” Young said. “Just because something is difficult, whether you agree with it or not, or you enjoy it or not, I wanna do everything I can to make the choice, to make it beneficial, make it something I can grow from.”

Young said he’s ready for 2025 now.

“Always just wanted to instill belief in the team,” he said. “As a leader, just learning in this league, the power of what that brings. Power of belief, power of one and to play for something, be able to rally people.
“That was, again, definitely a learning process. And anything that I can do, and just building that and instilling that, is something I take pride in.”

Rebuilding the defense likely will take priority in the offseason through the draft and free agency, which opens March 12. The Panthers will have the eighth pick in the draft.

Among the Panthers’ players, 21 are scheduled to become free agents, including Dalton, cornerback Mike Jackson, linebacker Shaq Thompson and offensive linemen Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen.

“Just grateful to just have these days, this last week, each of them,” Canales said. “They’re just special moments to spend with the guys, with the coaches, just soaking it all in.”

Now, the real work begins.

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