Typically, when a team ranks 29th in the league in any category, major changes follow in the offseason. However, Dave Canales has a different perspective when it comes to his offense. To him, being in the 20s signals room for significant growth.
The Panthers are largely sticking with the same offensive personnel this offseason, with the only major addition so far being free-agent running back Rico Dowdle. That may not seem like a dramatic shift, but after watching his team improve in the latter half of last season, Canales is confident in maintaining continuity for one key reason.
“There’s so much potential for development because of how young our core is,” Canales said at the league’s annual meeting at The Breakers resort. “Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, Ja’Tavion Sanders, even Tommy Tremble—they’re all still young.
“This group is just starting to get comfortable with our schemes, and I’m excited to see the small but meaningful progress each player makes.”
Currently, seven key offensive players are 25 or younger, a factor that outweighs last season’s 29th ranking in total yardage—especially considering the upward trend late in the year.
Starting running back Chuba Hubbard turns 26 in June. Tremble, despite four years in the NFL, is just 24—the same age as left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and Legette. Quarterback Bryce Young and Coker are both 23, while running back Jonathon Brooks is only 21. Even after returning from last year’s ACL injury, Brooks will still be one of the youngest players on the team.
Retaining the entire offensive line, alongside seasoned veterans like Adam Thielen (34) and Andy Dalton (37), has created a well-balanced unit with a defined identity.
Although much of the conversation revolves around Young, Canales believes their ability to run the ball is what will allow them to build on last season’s progress.
“It’s about identity and play style,” Canales said when asked why he opted for continuity on offense. “We focused on establishing the run game, and we accomplished that. Chuba and the offensive line meshed well, the tight ends and receivers bought in, and it all came together.
“If we want to be a tough football team, it starts with running the ball. Reaching over 1,000 rushing yards and building that mentality helped us stay on schedule and play the brand of football we envisioned. From a schematic standpoint, that was huge.”
Building that foundation wasn’t easy—or cheap. Last offseason, they invested in guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis (both 28), moving previous free-agent signing Austin Corbett (29) to center. With Taylor Moton (30) on one side and Ekwonu on the other, the Panthers established a stable offensive line that benefited both Young and the rushing attack. After allowing a staggering 65 sacks in 2023, they cut that number to 36 last season.
General manager Dan Morgan has expressed interest in extending Ekwonu to keep him in Carolina long-term.
“I think Ickey has proven he’s a dominant run blocker,” Canales said. “He’s also been dependable in pass protection. Of course, he’ll tell you there are things to clean up—hand placement, footwork—but he’s our left tackle. Having him on one side and T-Mo on the other gives us confidence against any opponent.”
Moton, the oldest starter on the offensive line, is in the final year of his contract and now follows a midweek rest schedule. Though he missed three games last season—his first-ever absences due to injury—he returned for the finale. Still playing at a high level, he allowed just one sack and committed only one penalty last year, earning a 21st-place ranking among 141 tackles in Pro Football Focus’s grading system.
“He’s been Mr. Reliable for years, and we’re counting on him again,” Canales said. “I was thrilled to see him push through and finish the season with us. Around the league, you don’t see many veteran players battling to return when their team is out of playoff contention. But T-Mo wanted to be out there with his teammates, finishing what he started.
“And he’s still performing at a high level. He’s an excellent pass protector, strong in the run game, and continues to move defenders.”
The Panthers found success on the ground throughout the season, even before Young’s late-year resurgence.
They finished 18th in rushing, with Hubbard surpassing 1,000 yards for the first time in his career—a notable achievement considering their defense allowed a historic number of points, often putting them in unfavorable game situations.
By adding Dowdle (26) alongside Hubbard, the Panthers have solidified their commitment to the run game. Canales praised having two “war daddies” in the backfield, referring to their physicality and reliability.
Now, they boast two of last season’s top 20 players in yards from scrimmage—Hubbard (1,366 total, 1,195 rushing) and Dowdle (1,328 total, 1,079 rushing)—providing balance as the passing game continues to evolve.
With Legette, Coker, and Sanders, the Panthers were the only team with three rookies in the top 15 for receiving yards (Legette: 497, Coker: 478, Sanders: 342). Though speculation persists about adding another receiver in the draft, Canales sees Legette as a potential breakout star.
“Let’s see what Jalen can do next,” Canales said. “We know what Adam brings to the table, and I’m really happy with our group. I’m excited for this season.”
Bryce Young’s Growth
Young remains at the center of Carolina’s offensive development. After reclaiming the starting job in Week 8, he looked like a different quarterback, completing 197 of 319 passes (61.8%) for 2,104 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions (88.9 passer rating).
Beyond the numbers, Young demonstrated poise in clutch moments, orchestrating game-tying or game-winning drives in six of the final nine games.
“I think Bryce excels in high-pressure situations,” Canales said. “Coming back midseason, all eyes were on him, and that’s when he’s at his best—whether it’s late in a half or at the end of a game.
“When he returned to the starting role, he had this look—like, ‘This is my team. I’m going to prove it.’ And I just thought, ‘Yes, it is. Let’s go.’ It was exciting to see.”
Young’s improvement mirrored the overall growth of the team. Canales has consistently framed discussions about Young in the broader context of the Panthers’ second-half surge rather than focusing solely on individual progress, but the development was undeniable.
That’s why the Panthers are comfortable heading into the draft with a largely unchanged offense, focusing instead on addressing defensive weaknesses—something Morgan and executive VP of football operations Brandt Tilis emphasized.
“I believe our current group can play winning football,” Canales said. “We just have to be disciplined—Dan, Brandt, myself—about finding the right players to add, whether for this season or the future.
“But I love the guys we have and can’t wait to see their growth.”