Carolina Panthers News

The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing former Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle to an undisclosed deal on Monday, multiple sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Dowdle was never expected to return to Carolina in his search for an RB1 role after back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the Panthers and Dallas Cowboys. The 27-year-old carried the Panthers' backfield last year when Chuba Hubbard missed time due to injury, and he finished with 1,076 rushing yards and a career-high six rushing scores on 236 carries over 17 regular-season games (11 starts). Dowdle's production trailed off late last year, though, as Hubbard was kept in the fold out of the backfield. In Pittsburgh, he may have a similar problem. Pass-catching back Kenneth Gainwell signed with the Bucs, but Jaylen Watson remains and could be a serious threat to Dowdle's fantasy upside as he heads into his sixth NFL season. Dowdle finished 2025 as the RB16 in half-PPR scoring.

Carolina Panthers impending free-agent power back Rico Dowdle "has been linked" to the Washington Commanders by some people around the NFL, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Dowdle should do quite well for himself on the open market this offseason after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Panthers. In 17 regular-season games last year with Carolina, the 27-year-old South Carolina product had a career-high 236 rushing attempts for 1,076 yards (4.6 yards per carry), and six rushing touchdowns, adding 39 receptions for a career-best 297 yards and another score on 50 targets. Dowdle would become Washington's favorite for RB1 duties next season if they were to sign him, giving them a more experienced and established lead back over Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The Panthers are probably unlikely to re-sign Dowdle since he wants to pursue a lead-back role, which he won't get in Carolina alongside Chuba Hubbard.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan finished as the WR15 in Half-PPR formats on his way to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2025. With offensive coordinator Brad Idzik returning for his third season and set to take over play-calling duties from head coach Dave Canales, the stability is in place for him to take the next step in year two. While quarterback Bryce Young has yet to top 3,100 yards in his three-year career, McMillan was on the receiving end of nearly a third of the Panthers' 2025 passing offense, on the strength of a 26.3% target share. Following a surprise playoff appearance, Carolina holds the 19th pick in the NFL Draft, which could put them out of range to add another difference-making receiver in 2026. While the team did place the exclusive rights free agent tender on Jalen Coker, McMillan should again clear the top of the depth chart, putting him in line for his first potential WR1 finish.

The Carolina Panthers intend to replace backup quarterback Andy Dalton this offseason, according to David Newton of ESPN.com. "Moving on is the plan, even if it means releasing Dalton and leaving $3.83 million in dead cap money with a post-June 1 parting," Newton wrote. This loosely echoes previous comments from Panthers general manager Dan Morgan, who said the team wants to develop a young backup behind Bryce Young and that Dalton would have to compete for a roster spot. At this point, it sounds unlikely that he'll be back for 2026, with the Panthers perhaps looking toward free agency or the NFL Draft for a younger replacement. Newton identified veteran journeyman quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, and Sam Howell as potential QB2 options in Carolina going forward.

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard lost hold of his lead-back role during the 2025 season, but he has a glaring opportunity to win back the starting job in 2026. Rico Dowdle supplanted Hubbard atop the depth chart for a decent portion of last year, but with Dowdle headed for free agency and unlikely to re-sign, the job appears to be Hubbard's to lose. We can't rule out the Panthers drafting or signing a different running back to work alongside Hubbard, especially as more and more teams trend toward the shared backfield approach. However, it's worth noting that the Panthers have Trevor Etienne and Jonathon Brooks (knee) on the verge of making an impact, so perhaps Carolina will proceed with Hubbard atop the depth chart and Etienne and Brooks gradually taking on larger roles. The Panthers are also motivated to feed plenty of touches to Hubbard, as they signed him to a four-year extension just over a year ago. He was a top-28 fantasy running back in 2023 and 2024, but he dropped to RB38 with 511 rushing yards, 223 receiving yards, and four touchdowns last year. Hubbard's job security and the imminent departure of Dowdle should push him back into the top-25 range. As a result, he's a very appealing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues this offseason.

The Carolina Panthers placed exclusive-rights free-agent tenders on wide receivers Jalen Coker and Brycen Tremayne on Wednesday, locking them both in for the 2026 season, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. Neither Coker nor Tremayne will have the opportunity to negotiate with other teams this offseason. The 24-year-old Coker missed the first six games of last season due to a quadriceps injury, but he still managed to finish second in receiving in Carolina with 33 catches on 43 targets for 394 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in 11 regular-season games in his second year in the NFL. Coker emerged as the team's WR2 behind Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan late in the year, catching 19 passes for 244 yards and all three of his TDs in the final five games. He added nine grabs for 134 yards and a score in the Wild-Card playoff loss to the Rams. If Coker can play in a full season, he has true breakout potential as Carolina's WR2.

Carolina Panthers general manager and president of football operations Dan Morgan said on the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday that he hasn't talked to any teams "about a trade, but if the possibility did come up, I would talk to Andy." ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this week that the Panthers have been getting calls on the availability of veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. While the Panthers may not be looking to trade Dalton at this moment, it sounds like Morgan isn't opposed to it, especially after telling McAfee that the organization wants to "get a little younger and more athletic" at the backup QB position. The 38-year-old is going into the second year of a two-year, $8 million contract he signed with Carolina in February of 2025. At best, Dalton could be a veteran bridge QB for a team that loses out in free agency and is desperate at the position.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who is giving up offensive play-calling this year, said that quarterback Bryce Young will "increasingly be able to change plays at the line" when he recognizes mismatches with the opposing defense, according to Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com. "I love the strides we've taken in terms of the operation, how he gets us up there, makes great calls, fixes our protection problems, finding solutions in areas where we've talked about to take advantage of coverages, takes advantage of different fronts for run plays, and just wanting Bryce to continue to grow in the ownership of those things," Canales said. It's the next step in the former first overall pick's development as he heads into his fourth year in the league. The 24-year-old showed improvement in 2025, completing a career-high 63.6% of his passes for 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns, which were also career-highs. Young will need to take another step forward in 2026 to be thrown into the QB1 conversation in fantasy.

Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Carolina Panthers have been receiving calls about quarterback Andy Dalton for a potential trade. The veteran play-caller is heading into his 16th year in the league and was a serviceable backup during fellow quarterback Bryce Young's development since 2023. Before his stint in Carolina, Dalton was a streaming quarterback option during the 2022 season with the New Orleans Saints, with two top-10 finishes and double-digit fantasy points in nine of his 12 starts. Depending on his landing spot, Dalton holds value in two-quarterback or superflex dynasty leagues as a stash if he finds himself in a starting position once again. However, the 38-year-old is unlikely to crack the top 12 or 14 for redraft leagues in 2026.

Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said on Tuesday that running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is "making a lot of progress" in his rehab from the torn right ACL that he suffered in December of 2024, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. The Panthers are cautiously optimistic that Brooks will be able to contribute to their backfield in 2026 after he appeared in just three games in his two NFL seasons due to multiple ACL tears. The 22-year-old could have a path to being Carolina's RB2 behind Chuba Hubbard next season, too, if Rico Dowdle departs in free agency. Brooks, a former second-rounder in 2024 out of the University of Texas, will need to prove he still has the same pre-injury explosiveness, and the Panthers will undoubtedly ease him back in when he returns to the field. Brooks will be a big question mark going into the 2026 season.

Carolina Panthers impending free-agent running back Rico Dowdle wasn't happy with the way the 2025 season ended and seemed like a man not interested in re-signing, but he "has sent out social-media messages since then suggesting he might," according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. General manager Dan Morgan said the "door was open" for Dowdle to return, but they will let him test the free-agent market. If Dowdle doesn't re-sign, the Panthers are happy with the rest of the RB room, which includes Chuba Hubbard, former second-rounder Jonathon Brooks, and last year's fourth-rounder, Trevor Etienne. The 27-year-old Dowdle led Carolina in rushing last year, running for 1,076 yards and six touchdowns on 236 carries over 17 regular-season games. It was his second straight 1,000-yard season. He was involved in more of a timeshare down the stretch with Hubbard, though, and Dowdle has made it clear he wants an opportunity to be a lead back. That's unlikely to happen if he stays with the Panthers.

A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne played a minimal role on offense in his rookie year. Across 17 games, the 21-year-old recorded 107 yards from scrimmage on just 23 touches. Etienne spent the entire year buried on the depth chart behind veteran Panthers backs Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle. Dowdle is a free agent heading into 2026 and may not return to Carolina. However, the Panthers may be getting back 2024 second-round running back Jonathon Brooks (knee), who missed the entirety of 2025 while rehabbing from a torn ACL. Even if Dowdle signs elsewhere and Brooks' injury issues continue, Etienne did little as a rookie to prove he should be part of Carolina's long-term plans. Depending on league size and format, Etienne may not be worth stashing on dynasty rosters after his underwhelming 2025 campaign.

A first-round pick in 2024, Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette has yet to top 500 receiving yards or four touchdowns in either of his professional seasons. While he has shown the occasional flash, he looks to be heading in the wrong direction on the Panthers ' depth chart heading into 2026. Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan led the team in almost all statistical categories in 2025, while Jalen Coker has been prioritized over Legette whenever he's healthy. With Coker seeing career highs in targets, receptions, and yards in Carolina's Wild Card playoff loss, and the Panthers regularly tied to the position in a wide receiver-heavy draft, Legette's value continues to slide. Quarterback Bryce Young has yet to hit 3,300 yards or 25 passing touchdowns through his first three seasons, making a meaningful fantasy impact nearly impossible for any receiver that dips too far from the top of the depth chart.

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (fibula) missed the end of 2025 after being placed on IR. He still appeared in 13 games throughout the course of the regular season, amassing 29 catches, 190 yards, and one touchdown. This was a significant step back from his rookie campaign in 2024, when he was the TE36 in PPR leagues with 33 catches, 342 yards, and a trip to the end zone. The Panthers simply haven't placed much emphasis on utilizing the tight end position in the passing game in recent years, so even though Sanders has been atop the depth chart, he hasn't carved out a significant receiving role. That's unlikely to change in 2026, so he's not a particularly intriguing target in redraft leagues. However, he's worth holding and stashing in dynasty leagues because he's still a young, talented player with long-term upside in a more appropriate scheme.

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) has been dealt some very unfortunate injury luck since entering the NFL. Brooks tore his ACL in November 2023 while still at Texas, causing him to fall to the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The injury cost him the first few weeks of his NFL career, but he debuted in Week 12 of the 2024 season with a very small workload. He ultimately played just three games that season before suffering another ACL tear, and he has been sidelined ever since. Brooks' recovery timetable suggests that he should be healthy for the 2026 season. It's fair for fantasy managers to have their doubts about Brooks, given that he has just 12 touches through two years, but we can't forget how productive he was at Texas. Additionally, he should benefit from a clear path to productivity in Carolina. Rico Dowdle is expected to depart in free agency and Trevor Etienne had an underwhelming season, resulting in a wide-open competition for the No. 2 running back role behind Chuba Hubbard. If healthy, Brooks could be the favorite for that role. He'd presumably be eased back into action, but he has top-40 running back appeal if he's healthy for Week 1.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young may never fully live up to his prospect pedigree as the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, the 24-year-old made definite strides in his third NFL season in 2025 and led Carolina to its first playoff berth since 2017. Across 16 games, Young completed 63.6% of his pass attempts for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while also adding 216 yards and two scores as a rusher. While Young averaged a middling 6.3 yards per pass attempt for the season as a whole, that number improved to a much more respectable 7.2 yards per attempt over his final seven games played of the regular season. While the Panthers are reportedly not expected to push to sign Young to an extension this offseason, the team is likely to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract after his successful 2025 campaign. As such, Young should have a bit more runway in Carolina to continue to develop and establish himself as the organization's long-term answer under center. Young is far from a high-end fantasy quarterback, but his stock in dynasty formats is moderately improved following his 2025 output.

Carolina Panthers first-round wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was named the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year on Thursday night, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. McMillan got to work right away after Carolina took him eighth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Arizona. The 22-year-old operated as quarterback Bryce Young's top target from the get-go and finished his rookie campaign with 70 receptions on 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. He also caught five of his seven targets for 81 yards in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams in his first career playoff game. McMillan's strong chemistry with Young bodes well for his future, and he'll head into Year 2 in 2026 with clear WR1 potential, although the lack of passing volume in Carolina's offense could be an issue.

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard's RB15 finish in 2024 made him a popular early-to-mid-round pick in 2025, but after missing time and ceding primary early down work to a more efficient Rico Dowdle upon his return, he finished as the RB40. Dowdle, who was on a one-year deal, has been vocal about wanting to be featured as a lead back, but whether he returns to Carolina or not, it's unlikely that Hubbard will again see the type of volume that made him a fantasy league-winner in 2024. Hubbard's usage in the passing game has ranked among the least efficient in the league over his five-year career, and his near-300 touches in 2024 came largely as a result of the unexpected absence of second-round pick Jonathon Brooks, who could be back to fight for a starting role in 2026. Regardless of who Hubbard finds himself sharing a backfield with next season, the 27-year-old has likely seen the last of his bell-cow duties.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that wide receiver Jalen Coker will enter the offseason as the team's No. 2 wideout behind 2025 first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, according to David Newton of ESPN. Newton also writes that the Panthers' top offseason priority is locking Coker down long term. He's an exclusive-rights free agent, so the team could tender him an offer for the league minimum to ensure that he's around in 2026 at a low cost. The 24-year-old came on strong late in 2025 and had nine catches for 134 yards and one touchdown in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. If the Panthers truly believe in Coker, they could look to lock him up long-term at a reasonable price. Injuries have limited Coker to 22 regular-season games in his first two years in the NFL, but when on the field, he's been productive, catching 65 passes for 872 yards and five touchdowns on 89 targets. If he can finally stay healthy in Year 3, Coker has true breakout potential.

ESPN's David Newton writes that unless Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle wants to "return at a bargain price," he "appears headed to this third team in three seasons." General manager Dan Morgan said he had a good meeting with Dowdle after the season, but Dowdle was unhappy with the way the year ended -- he had seven carries for 10 yards in the Week 18 regular-season finale and only five carries for nine yards in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The 27-year-old has produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and was Carolina's leading rusher (1,076 yards), but he'd likely be in a committee backfield again with Chuba Hubbard if he were to re-sign. Hubbard is locked in through the 2028 campaign on a four-year, $33.2 million deal he signed in 2024. "I just want to be a guy who can go out there and just get the bulk [of the carries]," Dowdle said.