Panthers release initial depth chart: Examining the good and interesting of the team thus far
On Tuesday, the Carolina Panthers released the team's initial depth chart heading into a week of joint practices and the year's first preseason game. The depth chart held some familiarity and surprising names, but more than anything else, it is the first snapshot of who the Panthers' head coach Frank Reich trusted through the first 10 […]
On Tuesday, the Carolina Panthers released the team's initial depth chart heading into a week of joint practices and the year's first preseason game.
The depth chart held some familiarity and surprising names, but more than anything else, it is the first snapshot of who the Panthers' head coach Frank Reich trusted through the first 10 practices of the season.
Take a look at the depth chart:
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QB | Bryce Young | Andy Dalton | Matt Corral | ||
RB | Miles Sanders | Chuba Hubbard | Raheem Blackshear | Spencer Brown | Camerun Peoples |
WR | DJ Chark | Terrace Marshall Jr. | Derek Wright | Gary Jennings | |
WR | Jonathan Mingo | Laviska Shenault Jr. | Javon Wims | Josh Vann | |
WR (slot) | Adam Thielen | Damiere Byrd | Shi Smith | C.J. Saunders | |
TE | Hayden Hurst | Tommy Tremble | Giovanni Ricci | ||
TE | Ian Thomas | Stephen Sullivan | |||
LT | Ikem Ekwonu | Michael Jordan | Ricky Lee | ||
LG | Brady Christensen | Nash Jensen | Chandler Zavala | ||
C | Bradley Bozeman | Justin McCray | Sam Tecklenburg | ||
RG | Cade Mays | Deonte Brown | J.D. DiRenzo | Austin Corbett | |
RT | Taylor Moton | Cameron Erving | Larnel Coleman |
Panthers depth chart
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE | Derrick Brown | DeShawn Williams | Raequan Williams | Taylor Stallworth | |
DE | Shy Tuttle | Henry Anderson | Antwuan Jackson | ||
DT | Marquan McCall | Nick Thurman | LaBryan Ray | ||
OLB | Brian Burns | Yetur Gross-Matos | DJ Johnson | Jordan Thomas | |
OLB | Justin Houston | Marquis Haynes Sr. | Kobe Jones | Amaré Barno | Eku Leota |
LB | Frankie Luvu | Deion Jones | Chandler Wooten | Bumper Pool | |
LB | Shaq Thompson | Kamu Grugier-Hill | Ace Eley | Brandon Smith | |
CB | Jaycee Horn | Keith Taylor Jr. | Herb Miller | Mac McCain III | |
CB | Donte Jackson | CJ Henderson | Mark Milton | Rejzohn Wright | |
S | Xavier Woods | Jammie Robinson | Sam Franklin Jr. | ||
S | Vonn Bell | Eric Rowe | Josh Thomas | ||
NCB | Jeremy Chinn | Stantley Thomas-Oliver III | Greg Mabin |
Panthers depth chart
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
KR | Raheem Blackshear | Laviska Shenault Jr. | Shi Smith |
PR | Raheem Blackshear | Damiere Byrd | Shi Smith |
LS | JJ Jansen | ||
H | Johnny Hekker | ||
P | Johnny Hekker | ||
K | Eddy Piñeiro | Matthew Wright |
Special teams depth chart
Analyzing the Panthers Depth Chart
First, and most obvious, Bryce Young is officially the team's No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart. That comes as no surprise, as it took Reich all but one practice to double-down on Young being the Panthers' franchise guy moving forward.
Young will have weapons to connect with free agent additions DJ Chark Jr. and Adam Thielen and rookie Jonathan Mingo listed as first-team receivers, Hayden Hurst at starting tight end, and Miles Sanders leading the running backs. That is a solid crop of players for a Panthers team that is expected to have one of the better offenses in the NFC South.
With Ikem Ekwonu at left tackle, Brady Christensen at left guard, Bradley Bozeman at center, and Taylor Moton at right tackle, the offensive line remains relatively unchanged.
Most names on the defense also remain unchanged. The shift to a 3-4 base defense puts Brian Burns in an interesting position as an outside linebacker. Justin Houston is listed as the starting outside linebacker opposite Burns, with Yetur Gross-Matos and Marquis Haynes Sr. behind them.
However, with Reich explaining that Houston will be a role player, it isn't out of the question that the Panthers could shift things around as the preseason goes on. Still, following the release of the official depth chart, several early questions have been answered about the Panthers moving forward.
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Feature image via Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports.