CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan were asked more questions last week at the NFL combine in Indianapolis about defensive linemen than they were about quarterback Bryce Young.
They were also asked more about their punter and kicker situation than about Young.
In fact, they were asked more questions about almost every position than Young, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft.
That's a major shift for Carolina as it heads toward free agency and the NFL draft.
"I'm excited to go into this offseason knowing we have this quarterback,'' Canales said as he entered his second offseason with Carolina. "Now let's start building this team.''
A year ago, there were endless questions at the combine about whether Young (2-14 as a rookie) could be the franchise quarterback the previous staff believed he could be when they drafted him.
Last week, Morgan was asked only once about Young during his podium time with reporters -- and it didn't come until the sixth question. Canales also was asked about Young once at the podium, on his fifth question.
The lack of inquiry signaled quarterback wasn't a concern for Carolina for the first time since 2016, when it had Cam Newton coming off an MVP performance.
Since then, the Panthers have been through 12 starting quarterbacks because of injuries or poor performance -- a major reason why they've had seven straight losing seasons.
Faith in Young has allowed management to focus on the rest of the roster, specifically a defense that ranked last in the NFL in 2024.
The Panthers will have the same general manager, head coach and quarterback in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2019, and that stability is helping.
"I feel so much more clarity about where we need to go, what we need to address, and how we can utilize different players,'' Canales said.
Here is more of what was revealed about the Panthers' offseason plans during the combine:
Defensive line
Morgan and Canales agree that fixing the defensive front is a priority, like fixing the offensive line was a year ago. Carolina allowed a league-worst 179.8 rushing yards last season and ranked last in pressure rate (16.2%).
"Let's be honest,'' Canales said. "We know we have to address the [defensive] run game. We know it starts up front.''
The return of defensive tackle Derrick Brown, lost for the 2024 season in Week 1 due to a torn meniscus in his left knee, will help. But there will be plenty of change around Brown, including pass rushers.
"Whether up front, at safety, at corner, there's a lot of holes to fill,'' Morgan said.
Offensive line
The core of last year's starting five is under contract, but there are questions.
Morgan said negotiations to re-sign center Austin Corbett and Cade Mays, who replaced Corbett when he tore his left biceps last season, are taking place before exploring options in free agency.
Right tackle Taylor Moton has a $31 million salary cap hit in 2025, which is high. Morgan said the team is OK if the 30-year-old plays at that figure. He also didn't rule out renegotiating. Stay tuned.
Injuries and contracts
Wide receiver Xavier Legette, the No. 32 pick of the 2024 draft, had offseason surgery on his right foot. However, he avoided surgery on his left wrist, which appeared to be an issue during the season. There aren't concerns about Legette being ready for the season.
The same goes for Brown at defensive tackle.
However, Morgan was not willing to put a timetable on when running back Jonathon Brooks, last year's second-round pick, will return from surgery to repair the same right ACL he tore when he was in college. Because the injury happened late (Week 14), there is good reason to believe Brooks will miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season.
"Definitely disappointed for him, disappointed for us. But, yeah, not going to put any timeline on it now,'' Morgan said.
Inside linebacker Trevin Wallace had offseason shoulder surgery, but he's out of the sling and expected to compete for the starting job that opened up when Carolina moved on from Shaq Thompson.
Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn missed the final two games with a hip injury, but he's good to go. Morgan said a long-term extension is a priority with the No. 8 pick of the 2021 draft currently locked in with his fifth-year option.
"Hopefully we get something done sooner rather than later,'' Morgan said.
The No. 8 draft pick
Morgan didn't rule out staying at No. 8, trading up or trading down. If all things are equal, roster needs will take priority.
With defense the top need, many draft analysts have Georgia edge rusher Jalon Walker -- who was born in South Carolina and went to high school in Salisbury, North Carolina -- going to the Panthers.
The question in Indianapolis was whether Walker (6-foot-2, 245) is better suited as an edge rusher or a traditional off-ball linebacker like he was in college.
Morgan said he was keeping his thoughts "close to the vest.''
Walker described himself at the combine as a "chess piece ... playing multiple positions.''
Surrounding Young with more talent
Young wasn't the focal point for Carolina at the combine, but Morgan will continue to build around the player who was benched after the Panthers lost their first two games before returning as the starter in Week 8 and winning two of his final three games (4-8 as the starter in 2024).
That means adding depth and possibly a true No. 1 receiver. Morgan said he loved his receiver room -- Legette, 34-year-old Adam Thielen and 2024 undrafted rookie Jalen Coker, plus tight end Ja'Tavian Sanders -- but left the door open for upgrades.
He would like to bring back tight end Tommy Tremble at the right price, but Tremble will explore free agency first.
Canales is excited about the possibilities.
"It's all those guys, like really fleshing out what we could do, and the end of the season saying, 'Hey, that Atlanta game was pretty fun, right?'" Canales said of a 44-38 overtime win in the finale when Young had three passing touchdowns and two more rushing. "That's a pretty good starting point for us in terms of the mix of how he's the core of our system.''