CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers open the 2023 NFL regular season against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 11 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
First-year Carolina coach Frank Reich really likes his roster, starting with rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the top pick of the 2023 draft. He believes the foundation is there to make the former Alabama star an immediate success and give the Panthers a shot at winning an NFC South that appears there for the taking.
The biggest need is an edge rusher opposite Brian Burns, so don't be surprised if a veteran is added.
Here is the 53-man projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Bryce Young, Andy Dalton, Matt Corral
It didn't take Young long to be elevated past Dalton to QB1 on the depth chart and there's no reason to think that will change going into the season. Young has done nothing but prove why he was the No. 1 pick. The question is whether Corral, a third-round pick in 2022, is worthy of a roster spot. So far he has been. Reich said the former Ole Miss star made "significant strides'' during OTAs.
RUNNING BACK (3): Miles Sanders, Chuba Hubbard, Raheem Blackshear
The top three are solid, and the Panthers expect Sanders to take on a bigger role as a receiver, like he did during his rookie season with the Philadelphia Eagles. But this is an area the Panthers should look to add another player before the season, if for anything, to have a power back and more depth.
WIDE RECEIVER (7): Adam Thielen, DJ Chark, Terrace Marshall Jr., Jonathan Mingo, Shy Smith, Damiere Byrd, Laviska Shenault Jr.
Many winced when the Panthers traded DJ Moore to Chicago in the deal to acquire the top pick, but this group may be better than it has been in years with the additions of Thielen, Chark and Mingo. Thielen offers the vocal leadership Moore never did, and Mingo has star potential. The question is whether Marshall finally will play up to the potential he showed as a second-round pick out of LSU in 2021.
TIGHT END (4): Hayden Hurst, Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas, Giovanni Ricci
Carolina finally has a receiving threat in Hurst, something it hasn't had since Greg Olsen's last season here in 2019. That's important because a big target, particularly over the middle, will be key to the development of Young. Hurst's 52 receptions last season with the Cincinnati Bengals is 12 more than Tremble and Thomas had combined last season.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Ikem Ekwonu, Taylor Moton, Bradley Bozeman, Brady Christensen, Austin Corbett, Cade Mays, Cameron Erving, Chandler Zavala, Michael Jordan
Corbett (ACL) has already been ruled out to start the season, so finding a replacement at right guard on a line that returns the rest of the starters intact is the big question. Look for it to come down to Mays or Jordan, but don't be surprised to see the rookie Zavala make a push. Overall, this is the most talented and deepest group Carolina has had since the 2015 Super Bowl run.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Derrick Brown, Shy Tuttle, Henry Anderson, DeShawn Williams, Bravvion Roy, Marquan McCall
How Brown adjusts from tackle to end as Carolina transitions from a 4-3 base to a 3-4 is key. The seventh pick of the 2020 draft is the most high profile of the group. He has the makeup to excel in this scheme where ends need to make a big push to free the outside linebackers to get pressure. Overall, Carolina has done a nice job of bringing in role players to make this scheme work.
LINEBACKER (9): Brian Burns, Marquis Haynes Sr., Shaq Thompson, Frankie Luvu, Yetur Gross-Matos, Brandon Smith, DJ Johnson, Amare Barno, Kamu Grugier-Hill
The question here was whether to keep nine or 10, because this group is key in the 3-4 and special teams. Burns should excel at one outside linebacker spot. How confident the Panthers are in Haynes and Gross-Matos opposite him will determine whether a veteran is added. Thompson should excel in the middle as he transitions from the outside.
CORNERBACK (5): Jaycee Horn, Donte Jackson, CJ Henderson, Stantley Thomas-Oliver III, Keith Taylor Jr.
Health is the biggest issue here. Horn has missed 18 of 34 games the past two seasons and suffered a left ankle and foot injury during OTAs that sidelined him again. He should be ready for camp. But having him and Jackson, who has been limited to 21 starts the past two seasons because of injuries, will be key. With them, this is a deep and talented group.
SAFETY (4): Vonn Bell, Xavier Woods, Jeremy Chinn, Jammie Robinson
The addition of Bell not only improved the talent level, it freed up Chinn to play multiple positions that should be key for this defense. Chinn spent most of OTAs in the big nickel spot, but he can cover deep, play outside linebacker and create matchup problems for teams that have standouts at tight end and in the slot.
SPECIALISTS (3): P Johnny Hekker, K Eddy Pineiro, LS JJ Jansen
This group is as solid as it gets. The biggest offseason question was whether to go with Pineiro, who missed two game-winning kicks against Atlanta last season, or Zane Gonzalez coming off a groin injury. They went with Pineiro, whose 33 field goals last season were the second most for a season in team history behind John Kasay's 37 in 1996.