Grading the signing: Panthers add some extra power to the backfield to help mitigate the loss of Rico Dowdle in free agency
The Carolina Panthers have signed RB AJ Dillon to add more depth to the offense.
The Carolina Panthers backfield took a hit when Rico Dowdle walked out of the door and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. While it’s a better overall situation with more money for Dowdle, it left the Panthers in a tough spot at the running back position.
The team made it clear last season they are fully committed to Chuba Hubbard being a key component to the offense and the staff has high hopes for former second-round pick Jonathon Brooks to finally show what kind of speed and juice he can bring as the second primary back.
What the team was still missing was a true power-back that can fully round out the position and provide valuable depth behind Hubbard. General manager Dan Morgan just found the ideal option to add that trait to his roster.
Carolina Panthers sign RB AJ Dillon in free agency
The Panthers have agreed to a deal with free agent running back AJ Dillon, a player known for his physical running style that can give the Panthers the style of rusher they were missing.
Dillon spent the 2025 season with the Philadelphia Eagles playing behind starting running back Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby. He only recorded 12 carries for 60 yards during the regular season while playing just 50 offensive snaps. It’s a low-risk move for the Panthers to see what kind of shape Dillon is in and see if he can rejuvenate his career.
With the Green Bay Packers, Dillon’s punishing style allowed him to total 2,428 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns, and 146 first downs during his first four seasons with a career average of 4.1 yards per carry. His career unfortunately hit a rocky spot after a recurring neck stinger forced him to miss the entire 2024 season causing the Packers to turn a different direction with their backfield depth.
Playing behind Hubbard and Brooks, the Panthers won’t be asking much out of Dillon. If anything were to happen to Hubbard injury-wise, the addition of Dillon gives the offense an insurance piece that could handle the short-yardage and goal-line situations. At worst, he’s just a cheap camp body.
Dillon’s previous deal with the Eagles was a one-year contract worth $1.34 million, and it’s likely he’ll get a similar amount from the Panthers. He’s still 25-years-old and now has a chip on his shoulder to prove himself. It’s a smart addition and one that allows the Panthers to address another spot before going into the 2026 NFL Draft next month.
Grade: C+
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