The Five Members of the Panthers Organization with the most to prove in 2026.
As the 2026 season begins and the Panthers await their Sunday debut, we are faced with uncomfortable truths that we must examine, truths we’ve been avoiding. For certain Carolina Panthers players, the crossroads have arrived. With flashes of promise and plenty of uncertainty, the franchise faces a series of important decisions about the direction of its roster. Who could be on the way out, and which players may hold the key to what comes next in Carolina? Let’s break down the top players and staff members standing at a career crossroads.
5. Jonathan Brooks
As much as it pains me to write his name in this article, I believe the writing is on the wall. Brooks has been plagued by a series of unfortunate events in the form of injuries, and as we know, NFL teams are understanding to a point. Drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 2nd round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Brooks has 2 seasons of NFL tenure, with his only recorded game action coming from the 2024 season. Total NFL stats are: 9 rushes, 22 yards; 3 catches, 23 yards. The investment Carolina made in him, the draft capital, and the rehab timeline haven’t yet been matched by on-field production. The Panthers took a real risk betting on an already injured player. I still believe in Brooks; the talent is real, but the moment has come for him to deliver.
4. Bryce Young
Bryce Young enters the 2026 season with all eyes on him. Opinions on drafting Bryce Young have split the Panthers fanbase from the start, and his chaotic early years haven't helped. While Young has shown growth, The Bleacher Report officially placed the former No. 1 overall pick on their "bust watch," with emphasis on him still needing to prove himself. To show that he can carry an offense and become a high-volume passer. Carolina seems to be taking a wait-and-see approach; they have paused contract extension negotiations until he demonstrates long-term viability.
3. Feleipe Franks // Darren Waller
Franks is the NFL’s converted QB-to-TE project, with minimal offensive production and a few eye-catching plays. With a large and young TE room, if he doesn’t show real TE development, he’s the first out. Waller was a late-summer signing. Carolina kept Waller, citing his ‘unique skill set’. In my opinion, Waller would have to produce early, or he could become a trade candidate.
2. Ejiro Evero
Evero has been with the Panthers since 2023 under former head coach Frank Reich. He has been retained by head coach Dave Canales, going on his second season under Canales. Countless times, it has appeared Carolina had all the right pieces to restore this defense to its former glory. If you kept up with free agency, you saw the Panthers made huge investments in outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips and inside linebacker Devin Lloyd. Not to mention the latest signing, Bobby Okereke. Evero has been given additional strong pieces to make this defense easily top 5. My thought is that they gave him what he needed, so there are no excuses if they don’t perform. Remember, Canales had the opportunity to build his team when he arrived in Carolina, whereas Evero was already here.
1. Xavier Legette
There should be no surprise that Xavier Legette made the list. If there is one player who hasn’t lived up to the investment Carolina made in him, it’s Legette. Beyond that, I get the sense that Carolina is running out of patience and may no longer be willing to wait for him to develop. Xavier entered the NFL with high expectations as a first-round pick in the 2024 draft. It is hard to say what kind of season Legette will have or what kind of targets he will see. If 2026 third-round pick Chris Brazzell II had not suffered his knee injury early on in training camp, it is likely Xavier would be considered No. 4 in the Panthers’ receiver room.
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