Carolina Panthers Depth Chart
- NFC South
- Stadium
- Bank of America Stadium
- Head Coach
- Matt Rhule
- Offensive Coordinator
- Joe Brady
- Defensive Coordinator
- Phil Snow
- Special Teams Coach
- Chase Blackburn
- Defensive Scheme
- 4-3
Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson, a former first-round pick, is hoping to fill the void left in the middle of the defense when Luke Kuechly retired after last season. "But I gotta step up as the last linebacker [of that] trio that we had with Thomas Davis and Luke. So I gotta step up and fill that role and be that leader," Thompson said on NFL Network's Total Access. He had a great season in 2019, compiling a career-high 109 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss, three sacks and three passes defensed. With Thomas Davis gone last year, Thompson saw 903 defensive snaps after never seeing more than 609 in any of his previous seasons. The 26-year-old is definitely in play as a low-end starting linebacker in IDP leagues.
Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Shaq Thompson told NFL Network's Colleen Wolfe on Wednesday's NFL Total Access that quarterback Teddy Bridgewater "is back" to the talent that made him a Pro Bowler when he was with the Vikings. "I think Teddy's definitely going to come in and change the offense. He has great weapons," Thompson said. Bridgewater went 5-0 in relief of an injured Drew Brees for the Saints last year and has plenty of weapons at his disposal in his first year in Carolina. While the 27-year-old signal-caller isn't known as a QB that pushes the ball down the field consistently, he could surprise in 2020 under new head coach Matt Rhule. Bridgewater will be a QB2 target with upside for fantasy owners.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver D.J. Moore could be in line for a Pro Bowl season, according to Sports Illustrated's Schuyler Callihan. The 23-year-old emerged as one of the most dynamic wideouts in 2019 by compiling 87 catches for 1,175 yards and four touchdowns and did so despite the season-ending injury to Cam Newton and the inconsistent play of Kyle Allen. He also finished in the top ten at his position in both receiving yards and receptions, and with the recently signed Teddy Bridgewater hopefully providing some reliability under center along with a new coaching staff, Callihan's prediction may come to fruition in 2020.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater wasn't asked to go deep often in the Saints offense that focused more on yards after the catch, but head coach Matt Rhule thinks Bridgewater "is exactly what we want." His 6.2 intended air yards per pass attempt last year is right in line with Drew Brees' 6.4 intended air yards per attempt. Rhule thinks Bridgewater is capable of making downfield throws and "certainly has the arm strength to do it." Based on Carolina's personnel at wide receiver, Rhule hinted that there could be more downfield shots to Robby Anderson, Curtis Samuel and D.J. Moore. Bridgewater certainly has plenty of weapons around him and could be playing from behind often, making him an attractive QB2 with upside for more.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Curtis Samuel was highly touted by new offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, and believes that the former Buckeye is "going to be critical" to the team's success this season. The 23-year-old had flashes of productivity during the 2019 campaign and led the Panthers' wideout corps with six receiving touchdowns. With Teddy Bridgewater now calling the shots behind center and new head coach Matt Rhule in town, Samuel has a chance to surpass his ADP expectations, making him an ideal selection in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts for the 2020 season.