CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers are scheduled to open training camp on July 28 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte in what best can be described as a rebuilding year for first-year NFL head coach Matt Rhule. Carolina is coming off consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 2011-12, quarterback Cam Newton's first two years in the league. With Newton now at New England the task of turning things around falls into the hands of Teddy Bridgewater. Here's a 53-man roster projection.
QUARTERBACK (3): Teddy Bridgewater, Will Grier, P.J. Walker
The Cam Newton era is over. Bridgewater is the quarterback Rhule and his staff believed was the best fit to lead this offense. He is 22-12 as a starter in his NFL career, including 5-0 with New Orleans last year. He worked with new offensive coordinator Joe Brady in New Orleans in 2018. Signing him to a three-year, $63 million deal just made sense. It also makes sense to keep two other quarterbacks, with Grier entering only his second season and Walker a project from the XFL. Walker might have the edge as the No. 2 QB as a former starter for Rhule at Temple.
RUNNING BACK (5): Christian McCaffrey, Reggie Bonnafon, Jordan Scarlett, Mike Davis, Alex Armah (FB)
McCaffrey is the best all-around back in the game based on onfield performance. Last season he became the third player in NFL history to have 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. This offseason he was rewarded with a four-year extension that made him the highest-paid running back in the league at $16 million a year. He is the new face of the franchise. He has played on more than 91% of the snaps the past two seasons, so it rarely matters who is behind him. Davis might have the edge. Armah is a lock as the fullback.
TIGHT END (3): Ian Thomas, Chris Manhertz, Temarrick Hemingway
Thomas, selected two years ago in the fourth round out of Indiana, is the heir apparent to Greg Olsen, who is now with the Seahawks. Thomas has potential to be solid or even great, but still hasn't been "the guy" for an NFL season. Manhertz is more of a run-blocker. The third tight end might not be on the current roster.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Curtis Samuel, Pharoh Cooper, Keith Kirkwood, Omar Bayless
The top four for this group seems set. Moore, Anderson and Samuel have the potential to be as dynamic as any trio in the league, with the elite speed to blow the top off of offenses. Don't be surprised if Seth Roberts or maybe even DeAndrew White sneaks into one of the final two spots. Carolina also could go with five wide receivers and an additional lineman since McCaffrey often lines up as a receiver.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): T Russell Okung, G Tyler Larsen, C Matt Paradis, G John Miller, T Taylor Moton, T Greg Little, T Dennis Daley, G Chris Reed, G Michael Schofield
The offseason trade for Okung added much-needed veteran experience at left tackle. Paradis is solid in the middle, as is Moton at right tackle. Solidifying the guard spots is key as Carolina moved on from veteran Trai Turner. Miller and perhaps Daley, listed as a tackle, might be the answers inside. How efficient this group is will determine how efficient this offense is.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): DT Kawann Short, DT Derrick Brown, DT Bravvion Roy, DT Zach Kerr, DE Stephen Weatherly, DE Brian Burns, DE Christian Miller, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, DE Marquis Haynes
The return of Short from 2019 shoulder surgery to pair with first-round pick Brown makes the middle of this front potentially among the top five in the NFL. Look for a lot of competition for second-round pick Gross-Matos, who will compete for starting time with Weatherly and Burns, Carolina's 2019 first-round pick. This is one of the deepest groups on the team. It could be the end of the Efe Obada experiment from the NFL's International Pathway program.
LINEBACKER (6): Shaq Thompson, Tahir Whitehead, Andre Smith, Jermaine Carter, Jordan Kunaszyk, Jordan Mack
Luke Kuechly's surprise early retirement makes this feel like a total rebuild, particularly because it came a year after moving on from veteran Thomas Davis. But the cupboard isn't bare. Whitehead, a free-agent pickup, will get the first shot at replacing Kuechly and Thompson is as talented as any OLB in the league. Coaches are high on Carter. Fortunately for this group, the front four will draw a lot of attention.
SAFETY (4): Tre Boston, Jeremy Chinn, Juston Burris, Kenny Robinson
The competition here is between second-round pick Chinn and Burris to replace veteran Eric Reid, who was released. Barring injuries, the starters should be strong, with Chinn and Burris likely to be used a lot in the box.
CORNERBACK (5): Donte Jackson, Eli Apple, Troy Pride Jr., Stantley Thomas-Oliver, Cole Luke
Jackson started 16 games as a rookie, but that dropped to 10 in 2019 because of inconsistent play. Look for fourth-round pick Pride to push for starting time. Apple, who has 48 starts since the Giants made him a first-round pick in 2016, looks solid as the other corner. The team is counting on a lot of youth here.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3): Joey Slye, Michael Palardy, J.J. Jansen
Veteran kicker Graham Gano reportedly has looked solid coming off a year on IR for a knee injury. His $4.3 million cap hit, however, makes him a likely casualty for a team in rebuilding mode. Slye wasn't great as Gano's replacement last year, but he was good enough and his $695,000 cap number will be a factor in the competition. There's no competition at punter. Jansen has a cap hit of slightly over $1 million, which is a luxury, but he is one of the best in the NFL and will remain on the roster unless a surprise candidate emerges.