Takeaways from the Carolina Panthers first depth chart of 2024

the Carolina Panthers released their first step chart of the 2024 season on Monday afternoon let's take a look at it and see where players sit on the roster ahead of the preseason opener on Thursday in New England right here on lock on Panthers you are locked on Panthers your daily Carolina Panthers podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day welcome in to another edition of the lockon Panthers podcast a part of the locked on podcast Network I'm your host as always Julian Council talking Carolina Panthers with you every Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday and Friday your team every day that's our motto here on the locked on podcast Network subscribe or follow the show for free on YouTube or wherever you listen to your favorite podcast and be sure to follow me Julian counsil on Twitter at Julian counsel where I answer your week Friday mailbag questions here on the show throughout the offseason so either at me or DM me on Twitter at Julian Gil to get those questions into me right now today's episode of lock on Panthers is brought to you by FanDuel I love sports I love them so much I never want them to stop with the playoffs over we get fewer games and the sports aren't sportsing like I want them to but bandal lets me keep the sports going whenever I want all I have to do is open up the app and dream up bets anytime I'm in the mood and yes I know the NFL preseason is opening up in Earnest this weekend also we have the Olympics still going on Major League Baseball oh so close to college football and this summer by the way y'all FanDuel is hooking up all customers with a boast or bonus daily that's right there's something for everyone every day all summer long so head over to fanduel.com lockon and start making the most out of your summer FanDuel official sports betting partner of Major League Baseball I am back once again here on Monday the third show of the day on Monday now the show reacting to the recent injury history here in Carolina last couple days recorded that on Sunday recorded the day nine training camp observations earlier this afternoon and this evening looking over at my phone and seeing that the Panthers have dropped their first unofficial depth chart of the season and felt like well you're G to talk to Alex zlo tomorrow about what's going on in training camp probably now touch on this L and then preview the first preseason game up in New England on Thursday you got to find some time Julian to talk about the depth chart so here I am on Monday evening talking about it and you're either watching or listening maybe on Monday or really whenever you have time to so let's get into it Panthers releasing they say on their website the first dep chart of 2024 that's technically not true they had depth charts back in January for week 17 and 18 of the 2023 regular season now this is the first dep chart of the 2024 regular season which has not begun but I understand what they're saying although technically not true either way let's get into it look at the offense first do a quick break then look at the defense looking at the offense right now the starters at quarterback of course Bryce young I guess let's break it down by position Bryce young is your starting quarterback as we know Annie Dalton's the number two Jack plumber number three Jake Luton who was just brought in on Monday he is the number four quarterback the Panthers right now we know for certain as long as they stay healthy and Andy's battling a calf injury he was still out there on Monday throwing a little bit later on in practice he'll be fine should be ready to go week one it's Bryce it's Andy and right now it's Jack he is getting every opportunity to show that he is worthy of being that third quarterback and being the emergency quarterback for the Panthers once they get into the regular season I do think it is notable that they brought in Jake Luton and not one of the other veterans that we talked about like a Brian Hoyer like a Ryan tanah Hill a Trevor Simeon and I know none of these names are sexy and appealing I just look at it as if you're gonna bring somebody in and you're gonna force in a third quarterback why not get somebody who's actually played in NFL games and Jake Luton has done that so he's probably not gonna be the fourth the third guy but Jack plumber he right now has the opportunity and if he does not play well enough he will not be that player and the Panthers of course will look at the waiver wire once the reg the preseason is over and see if there's anyone that they want to bring in so right now it's Bryce it's Andy it's Jack and so Andy is healthy it's Jake Luton as that fourth guy looking at the running back position chba Hub on top of the depth chart a top depth chart rather mil Sanders number two Raheem blacksher Mike Boone Jaden shearan and Dylan Johnson who they brought in recently from the University of Washington as we know chubo going to be one and knowing about the news that came out this weekend from Dave Canalis that Jonathan Brooks their second round running back out of Texas who tours ACL last November he's not gonna be ready until maybe week three week four seems like he's a pretty good candidate to start off on pup physically unable to perform list before the season begins could see that I don't really see him making that big of an impact right now as things presently sit knowing that he's not going to get game reps in the preseason he's not getting reps right now in training camp really hard to expect somebody coming off with that kind of injury not getting any live reps during training camp and the preseason to come in during the regular season and to unseat someone like chuba hubber and mil Sanders and having conversations with somebody at camp on Monday they made a pretty good point to me this organization knows that this is it for chuba as far as his rookie deal and that they have an outm Sanders contract after this season there's two guys that they can run into the ground and as I have always told y'all use them abuse them then lose them federal minimum wage no overtime no holiday pay none of that when it comes to running backs that's what chuba and that's what miles Sanders even though miles getting paid a lot of money can be to the Panthers this year so those two guys should be the ones who punch she was the top guy miles second guy and Dave Canal said he wants to be stubborn about running the football the offensive lineman are excited about and that camp they're dedicated to the run so those two guys are going to get a lot of work this season whether J Jonathan Sanders or Jonathan God Brooks is ready to go or not so chuba and Miles those are your top running backs Raheem black sheer your third guy he's gonna be a kick returner so he's going to be on the roster then Mike Boone heard a lot recently about how this team really likes him think he probably factors in as more of a guy who would be on the practice squad but knowing right now that Jonathan Brooks not going to be ready to go week one and a really good candidate to start off on pup maybe Mike Boone makes the initial 53 man roster but also oh man I have my roster on me I'm pretty sure he is a like seven-year vet or something like that so the whole vested veteran thing where he kind yeah he's seven-year vet so the whole vested veteran thing where if you've been in the league four years your contract is guaranteed if you're on the roster week one expect him to be cut but then brought back likely after week one unless somebody else picks him up right now has an opportunity to certainly stick around here in Carolina wide receiver a vitally important position was the worst wide receiver room in the NFL last year Adam Thon he's up there back in the slot John the Mingo he right now is wide receiver three and of course wide receiver one and the top Target is Deontay Johnson those are the three starters and looking at everything that I've seen at training camp so far that checks out it scans that those have been the top three guys at w receiver behind him looking at behind deont Johnson you got terce Marshall as a number two wde is a second string wide receiver uh Amir Smith marett as a second string wide receiver in Xavier leat who was able to really get a good uh diagnosis with the MRI coming back negative when looking at his foot so no break there he is day-to-day going to miss the preseason opener on Thursday in New England those are the other guys and then looking at Mike straw as well who was a Frank Wright guy he's still around David Moore Devin Tomkins who's brought in as more of a returner Jaylen Coker somebody who a lot of fans have been wondering if he was going to be a guy who can make the roster there's opportunity there looking at it if they're only gonna keep five wide receivers maybe not five let's see Deontay Johnson's on the roster Adam thel and Jonathan Mingo Xavier Legette those are four guys that are guaranteed to be on the roster and then after that Amir Amir Smith marett I think is going to make it because of special teams so that's five if they keep six right now I would say terce Marshall Jr but don't look past David Moore this staff likes him the whole thing though is he's a bested veteran so his contract will be guaranteed if he's on the roster week one that may be a guy that decide to release Deon Tomkins also could make the roster based on special teams but looking at it right now if they're keeping five it's clearly Johnson it's Steen it's Mingo it's Legette and then it's Amir Smith marett they're keeping six feel like terce Marshall Jr is in Prime position to be that six guy so we'll see how that works out looking at the offensive line well actually we start of tight ends we get to the rest of the offensive line or get to the offensive line period uh Tommy Trimble Ian Thomas those are listed as your top two tight ends right now in Carolina Trimble has only practiced one time during training camp as he's deal with hamstring he should be back at some point next week will he be out there for joint practice with the Jets that's still to be determined we would not expect him to play in a preseason game next weekend against New York uh then looking at Ian Thomas he's got a calf issue he's got to figure out it's going to be something that's going to test him up until week one that's what Dave canalo said on Sunday after practice so we'll see how that works out he was out there on Monday just walking around so that at least is a good sign that he got some treatment but he was still able to be out there where did not see sha did not see Xavier leet did not see cam Gil either uh when looking at all of that uh jaavan Sanders the backup Jordan Matthews the backup fipe Franks J Jacob Hollister Jesper horad so Sanders Matthews Frank's Hollister and hedad are the only healthy tight ends right now Stefan Sullivan currently on IR if I'm looking at it right now the four guys baring that Thomas is gonna be good to go week one who would make the roster at the tight end spot because I think they'll keep four Ian Thomas Tommy Trimble Tavon Sanders and then Jordan Matthews not somebody who I thought had a chance at all looked at him as more as a Frank Wright guy somebody who used to play wide receiver in this league was pretty successful early on coming out of Vander especially this time in philad Adelphia transitioned to tight end he was playing a lot even before Thomas went down trimo again has not really been around he's impressed and based off of necessity fact that he's been here he's probably gon be on the roster now I wouldn't count out Jacob Hollister because of his relationship with the staff they have that opportunity if Thomas is not ready to go Hollister would make sense as that fourth guy instead and maybe he takes over ahead of George Matthews but Matthews has garnered praise from Panthers head coach Dave canal at the offensive line we've talked about these guys a lot iyanu starting at left Austin Corbett starting uh at Center at left guard you have Daman Lewis at Right Guard Robert hunt right tackle Taylor mton those are your five starters then behind them right now on the depth chart they have Ricky Lee as second string left tackle chanala Zavala as a second string left guard Kade Mays as a backup center Brady Christensen there at Right Guard and badera trior at right tackle because Yash nyman their free agent signing from Green Bay expect to be their swing tackle he is still dealing with a surgery he had to help him out with a recovering broken leg he's been out there so in working his way back out but he's still not ready and there's possibility that he may be someone who starts off the season on pup meaning he would have to miss the first four weeks of the Year Jimmer Crawford is a third string left tackle Nas Jensen third string left guard Brady Christensen is the third string Center along with being the second string Right Guard JD dorenzo third string Right Guard Andrew R ROM still don't know his name name I'm sorry to him and his family and to you the listener and and viewer for not knowing how to pronounce it he is the four string Center the guy out of Oklahoma and I talked about this I believe earlier today on my observation of day nine of training camp looks like they're gonna probably keep nine we know the starting five after that Ricky Lee appears well it would be Christensen as their six guy ma as their seven guy as their backup center and they like Cade ma there more than Brady Christensen and in past years we look at these unofficial depth charts and you can't take it too seriously but right now like looking at it this is what I've been watching at Camp it it checks out to what we've been seeing and what I think we'll see also come Thursday night the pend and upon whether Bryce Young and the ones play we'll see what Dave can decides to do he said he was wrestling with that decision when speaking to us on Monday after practice so still Christensen as their six guy he would be the backup at Right Guard the backup at left guard the backup at tackle and then it's Cade May at Center then you would have if Yash Diamond's available he would be the other guy that would be eight and then the final player would come down to zabala and Ricky Lee and from my understanding they would take Ricky Lee now if Yash nyman starts off on pup it would then be Zavala who makes the roster as ninth man with Ricky Lee already up there as the eighth man then get Kade Mays and Brady Christensen as the six and seven guys respect here on the roster so that is The Unofficial depth chart for the Panthers offense through the first two weeks of training camp we'll take a look at the defense here in just a moment on locked on Panthers this show is sponsored by Better Health what are your self-care non-negotiables maybe you never skip a leg day or therapy day when your schedule is packed with kids activities big work projects and more it's easy to let your priori slip even when we know what makes us happy it's hard to make time for it but when you feel like you have no time for yourself non-negotiables like therapy are more important than ever if you're thinking of starting therapy get better help a try it's entirely online designed to be convenient flexible and suited to your schedule just fill a brief questionnaire to get match with a licensed therapist and switch therapist anytime for no additional charge never skip a therapy day with betterhelp that visit betterhelp.com lockon to get today today to get 10% off your first month that's betterhelp.com locked on taking a look at the defensive side of things when looking at the Panthers first depth chart of 2024 their unofficial depth chart uh looking first at the defensive line your starters on the defensive line Derek Brown shy Tuttle aan Robinson no surprise there have seen that consistently I've also seen TJ Smith out of arkansaw who is consistently rotated with ason Robinson and Shai Tuttle there with the first stringers those are your top four it looks like Nick Thurman Leen Ray would also be second string guys behind Tuttle and Robinson third string Jaden credy got ulumu Ali and Junior AO who when listed on the roster He's listed as being a practice squad player so don't know what that means as far as in the preseason I know what it means in a regular season as far as the preseason He's listed as a practice squad guy uh so have to get more clarity on the situation there and I have to ask somebody about that with the panther for maybe one of my friends out there here in the local media but Derrick Brown's on the roster shy tutle asan Robinson feels like TJ Smith is considering how much he's out there and he's rotating with the ones a ton we'll see how he performs in the preseason that matters when evaluating these players and he should good decent amount of snaps Nick Thurman looked really good at points of time especially late last season LeBron Ray as well did not see him out there on Monday by the way having conversation with somebody on a sideline on Monday it does not look good so far for the round pick out of Mississippi State Jaden crowny and the fact that T.J Smith is getting a lot of run with first team Thurman Ray are back here again and this is the same defensive coaching staff that we had last year here in Carolina gonna make it tough for cromed so they're keeping six it's brown it's Tuttle it's Robinson it's Smith it's Thurman it's Ray and if they're only keeping five I feel like it's gonna come down to Nick Thurman and leban Ray from looking at things so far in training camp we'll see how those guys perform of course in the pre-season let's go over to Edge rusher outside linebacker kind of on the defensive line as well the starting Edge rushers currently it looks like it's j Devan Clowny no surprise there and DJ Johnson third round pick last year out of Oregon somebody who a jroo the DC here in Carolina really liked and has Garner praise as well so far early on in training camp excited to see what he's able to do in the game though and I don't think he's going to be somebody that gets to rest Clowny don't really think he's going to play a lot if he plays at all and I don't really need to see him playing but as far as DJ Johnson goes yeah get that guy some reps let's see him be ready to go he is your other starter Caleb on Chason being out there he's also had a lot of opportunities now Johnson in the days that I was not there in a recent week appear to have taken over that role and looking at it actually on Monday today earlier this morning it was Chason who was out there with the ones more than Johnson but they're going to be rotating those guys so those those three are going to be your top three as things currently stand Aku Leota from Auburn udfa last year he's somebody that helped out in special teams and that this staff like last season again same defensive coaching staff he currently is a backup we got CH we got a let's see that's that's a linebacker we got Kenny Dyson Luis Blain Derek McLendon and cam Gale as the third and fourth stringers cam Gail as I mentioned earlier on today Monday on the observation show he is somebody who suffered an injury and he may be done for while maybe permanently here in Carolina at least for this season I still feel like they're going to have to add somebody DJ wam waiting to see what his situation is whether he's going to be ready to go for week one or if he's going to start up on pup still not much of clarity when it comes to that situation at all so Clowney Johnson Jason for sure those three are gonna stick around Mari barno another guy who is out there but probably not close coming back with torl suffered week 16 last year that's in December against the Packers look for him to start off the year on pup and maybe DJ willam's right there with him but Clowney Johnson Jason those three are absolutely in the roster Leota probably in a good spot to make it right now just looking at how things are play are playing out cam Gill another guy who's going to make it I thought on special teams have projected that he appears to be done in Carolina looking at the inside linebacker group Sha Thompson Josie juel those are your two starters no surprise there Shaq dealing with hamstring again much like some of the other sit situations not much clarity as far as when he's going to be ready to go more of a week to week than a day-to-day thing the hope is he'll be ready to go week one that may not be the case if that's not the case CLT cheris and Trevon Wallace are the two backups there at inside linebacker Trevon Wallace would be the starter he and cheris as we saw on Monday at least I observed on Monday he was out there those that pairing was out there as starting linebacker duo with Thompson nowhere to be found as he's rehabing and Josie juel getting a vet day like many guys did get on Monday I would think it' be juwel and then Wallace who this staff apparently really has liked how he's come in and perform so far maybe not the best instincts at linebacker but he runs hard plays hard and he's somebody that will maybe one day wear the Green Dot here in Carolina Chan Woon Tay Davis Michael Barrett Jackson Mitchell those are your third and four stringers at linebacker Wooten I would think he would make the roster because a special team same thing with CLA cheris Tate DAV would be right there with you with him in that situation and think about this guys as far as just looking at these back of the roster guys people got to play special teams Sam Franklin he is out for the foreseeable future with a broken foot also talking about cam Gil another special teams player who played special teams premium was a premier player special teams wise in Tampa the last couple years relationship with Dave Canalis some of the guys on the staff he currently is going to be out that's two spots that have opened up for some of these guys at inside linebacker who I talked about when doing roster breakdowns last month they're going to have to really battle to make the roster special teams wise cheris Davis and Wooten all feel like they're in a good spot to make it because of the need and the injuries that have occurred there when it comes to the Panthers special teams unit looking at the secondary we're start out at corner JC horn Dane Jackson of course can to be starting Corners here right now uh troit Hill would be the starting nickels behind them Lamar Jackson behind JC horn DiCaprio ble behind Dane Jackson CH Smith Wade behind Troy Hill no surprise there was Smith Wade he is the guy who they're gonna project to be their starter next year and that's the common theme when looking at the draft they drafted Jonathan Brooks apparently to be the starting running back next year as they knew he was not gonna be ready to go at least the beginning of the season and they knew they had two running backs in hubard and in Sanders that they can run into the ground and then get the guy who they feel like fits them better and is going to be a long-term player here up to speed and healthy for 2025 they also brought in JT Sanders for the future tremble last year Thomas could be his last year as far as their contracts go and their time here in Carolina Tavon Sanders give him an opportunity to be the starter next year that's one of those moves as well Trevon Wallace that's a move for the future as this is sha Thompson's final year his contract he says he has five more years left well those five years be in Carolina I think it's unlikely just looking at his current injury status and last year as well and whe in his age so we'll see how that plays out CH Smith Wade much like that he's somebody they brought in with the expectation that next year he would fill in for Troy Hill who's going to turn 32 later on this month so he would be on the roster Troy be on the roster Dane Jackson JC horn those would be uh one two three four Bole he's he's in a good spot he's consistently been really he's been the guy that they filled in to put in there as the other outside corner when JC has gotten a break it's been DiCaprio and Lamar Jackson has really staled out recently and Dave Canal came out and said on Monday when speaking to us after practice that that's a guy he wants to see it translate from the practice field in the preseason if he does that he's on the roster deshan Jameson not looking good for him as he's consistently had some issues uh covering guys and he is a third straight corner right now Willie Drew as well and then Anthony Brown it looks like you got to look at the at the secondary 10 guys that you're going to keep with the roster OB you got JC Lamar well JC Dane Troy Chaw DiCaprio Lamar that's six and then that's safety looking at it right now with Sam Franklin Jr again injured Xavier Woods Jordan Fuller those are the two starters Nick Scott he's going to be a third guy I thought that maybe with the best the veteran situation that they would get rid of him no he's our third guy he's also stepped up on special teams to take over some of the roles that Sam Franklin Jr was supposed to play then Alex Cook they love him signed him off of the I believe the Giants practice squad last year he came and started a couple games over a guy like Jamie Robinson Who currently is listed as a third string nickel corner here in Carolina I think he's on the roster so if you're looking at six in the secondary it's JC horn it's Dane Jackson Xavier Woods it's Jordan Fuller it's Troy Hill that's your starting five then it's Jos Smith Wade it's DiCaprio Bole it's Nick Scott it's Alex Cook and Lam more Jackson would be that guy as long as he performs DeShaun jamus and Jamie Robinson two guys are gonna really have to fight to get there having a hard time seeing it for the fifth round pick last year out of Florida State and for the udfa who played here last year out of the University of Texas that's the defense and where it currently stands another note Michael Barrett seven round pick out of Michigan was told that it's going to be really tough for him to make the roster same thing with Jaden crummy like those are two guys six and seven round picks and this is why I don't really get too caught up in six and seven round picks a lot of times they're not made the roster and they're not guaranteed a spot credy Barrett not looking good for them right now so maybe they make the practice squad but looking at that situation how the roster is and how the dep chart sits and this is pretty accurate to what I've seen in the injury situation right now in Carolina those two guys would be the odd men out as far as the draft class here this season is that a good is that a bad thing if you're upset about six and seven round picks not panning out I don't really know what to tell you if CH Smith way turns out to be good player as a fifth round pick same thing with Shavon Sanders as a fourth round pick be happy about that because that certainly is an improvement as the day three picks have really not played well here in Carolina in recent history you can maybe even say in team history finally looking at special teams uh the top kick returner is Raheem black year then you have punt returner Emir Smith maret looking at kick return they're going to have one guy returning then they're going to have someone basically as an upback who's also there in the 20 from the 20 yard line to the end zone which is called The Landing Zone with the new rules I missed the preseason game on Thursday the Hall of Fame game so I still have not seen it I was honestly actually sitting at a bar after I got off the golf course was sitting there and I was trying to see it kept looking out I like oh damn miss it again so it just kept happening to me I will get to see it on Thursday for the first time excited to see with how the Panthers have run it so far during practice is they've had one guy back there to return another guy back there with him as they're only allowed to in the landing Zone that other person is utilized as a upback who is meant to block so Raheem black here he will be the top kick returner got Emir Smith marett Devin Tomkins and then David Moore really not Xavier Le G at all making an impact as far as that goes and then looking at punt return exactly the same as far as the depth chart except you're flipping Smith maret with Raheem blacker air would be the top punt returner then Raheem then Devin Tomkins then David Moore and that's thing like black sheer marcet Smith marett they're both here to make the roster as returners and that will be the case I believe Long Snapper JJ Janson of course Johnny Hecker starting punter and in the kicker competition the kick traversy Eddie Pano ahead of Harrison Mavis no surprises and I am a little surprised that I'm looking at this unofficial step chart and it feels pretty official based off all the things that I have observed at training camp and everything that has also been written in the days that have not been there we will see how it plays out over the next couple of weeks as the Panthers have their preseason opener on Thursday evening up in New England that's going to wrap up this edition of the lockon Panthers podcast part of lockon podcast Network host by yours Julie Julie and Council again yall subscribe to follow the show for free on YouTube or wherever you listen to your favorite podcast and be sure to follow me on Twitter at Julian count to give me your weekly Friday mailback questions either at me or DM me on Twitter to get those questions in but in the meantime be safe be happy be whole as always and forever keep pounding and I will talk to y'all on Wednesday where again alexit the Charlotte Observer will be here on the show