The Carolina Panthers open the season on Sept. 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. This has been a complete overhaul of the roster for first-year NFL coach Matt Rhule and his staff, the least experienced in the league. It's a new era with franchise quarterback Cam Newton now in New England and Pro Bowl linebacker Luke Kuechly taking early retirement. Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Teddy Bridgewater, Will Grier, P.J. Walker
Rhule believes he has three quarterbacks that can win games in the NFL - eventually. But right now Bridgewater is the only one that has proven he can win now, going 22-12 as a starter, including 5-0 with New Orleans last year. Experience with first-year offensive coordinator Joe Brady, pin-point passing and leadership are a big reason Rhule felt Bridgewater was a "better fit'' than Newton in this rebuild. Walker appears to have the edge over Grier, but it's tight. His ability as a playmaker under Rhule at Temple and in the XFL this past season provides a comfort level in case something happens to Bridgewater.
RUNNING BACK (4): Christian McCaffrey, Mike Davis, Reggie Bonnafon, Alex Armah (FB)
McCaffrey earned a perfect rating in Madden 21 and he might be the best all-around back in the league after becoming the third player in NFL history to have 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. He's the new face of the franchise and was rewarded with a four-year extension that made him the highest-paid back in the league at $16 million a year. He will be the focal point of Joe Brady's offense just as he was Norv Turner's. Davis has gotten rave reviews from Rhule and should provide a comfort level to give McCaffrey, who played 93.35 percent of the snaps in 2019, an occasional break. Don't be surprised to see both on the field at the same time since McCaffrey doubles as a receiver.
WIDE RECEIVER (7): DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Curtis Samuel, Pharoh Cooper, Seth Roberts, Ishmael Hyman, Cam Phillips
Rhule recently said he hadn't decided whether to go with six or seven receivers. That alone tells you how spread this offense is going to be. Because of injuries the bottom half of this group has been juggled, so look for seven to start the season. The top three are a no brainer with Moore, Anderson and Samuel. Cooper also returns kickoffs, so he should make it.
TIGHT END (3): Ian Thomas, Chris Manhertz, Temarrick Hemingway
Thomas said he wasn't sure what his role would be because he wasn't sure how the tight end would be used in Brady's spread offense with a lot of 3-5 WR sets. No doubt he'll be the top receiving tight end to replace Greg Olsen. Rhule said Manhertz could be the best blocking TE in the NFL, so he'll get his share of snaps.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Russell Okung, Tyler Larsen, Matt Paradis, John Miller, Taylor Moton, Greg Little, Dennis Daley, Aaron Monteiro, Michael Schofield
The starting five appears solid with Okung, Moton, Paradis, Miller and Daley. Moving Daley from tackle to guard has worked well. This group also has solid experience with the trade for Okung to anchor left tackle key. Depth has to be a concern. With little experience there, but it's better than a year ago when Little began the season as the starter.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Kawann Short, Derrick Brown, Yetur Gross-Matos, Brian Burns, Bravvion Roy, Zach Kerr, Stephen Weatherly, Efe Obada, Marquis Haynes
The surprise of the starting group is Gross-Matos, one of four rookie starters on defense barring a change. He's replaced veteran Stephen Weatherly, which appeared to be a big offseason signing. This group no doubt is the strength of the defense, perhaps the team. The return of Pro Bowler Kawann Short from 2019 shoulder surgery to pair with first-round pick Derrick Brown makes the middle potentially among the top five in the NFL.
LINEBACKER (6): Shaq Thompson, Tahir Whitehead, Jeremy Chinn, Jermaine Carter, Adarius Taylor, Julian Stanford
The toughest cuts might come here. I'm throwing rookie Jeremy Chinn into the mix since he'll start as a Buffalo nickel/OLB spot as the Panthers prepare to face a lot of three-wide receiver sets. You also could list him with the safeties. He's that versatile. Tahir Whitehead steps into Luke Kuechly's shoes and is doing a nice job there. Shaq Thompson is the new leader of the defense.
CORNERBACK (5): Donte Jackson, Troy Pride Jr., Eli Apple, Stantley Thomas-Oliver, Corn Elder
To give you an idea of how this group has changed, T.J. Green was the starter opposite Jackson when camp opened. Now I don't have him on the 53-man roster. He could make it over Elder, but Elder's ability to play nickel gives him an edge. The surprise is rookie Troy Pride Jr., who has quickly risen up the depth chart to starter because of his speed and play-making ability.
SAFETY (4): Tre Boston, Juston Burris, Kenny Robinson Jr., Myles Hartsfield
Before camp it appeared it would be Burris or Chinn at SS, but Burris has proven to be the gritty kind of player Rhule and defensive coordinator love. That Carolina will go with five defensive backs a lot allows Burris and Chinn to start together. The surprise here is Miles Hartsfield, who has impressed not only as a safety but a running back.
SPECIALIST (3): Joey Slye, Joseph Charlton, J.J. Jansen
Slye wasn't great in 2019, but he was good enough and his $695,000 cap hit made more sense than keeping Graham Gano's $4.3 hit. Slye has had his ups and downs in camp, so keep an eye on this once the season begins. Joseph Charlton was handed the punter job after Michael Palardy had to undergo surgery for an offseason knee injury. He's got a strong leg and the Panthers really like him. He also can kick field goals in a crunch. Slightly over a $1 million cap hit on a deep snapper has been a luxury the past few years, but Jansen is one of the best in the NFL and will remain on the roster unless a surprise candidate emerges.