2023 NFL Team Offseason Roundup: Carolina Panthers

It’s time to look ahead to the 2023 NFL season! Follow along with all our fantasy football team offseason roundups here.

It’s been a very busy NFL offseason, with free agent signings, coaching changes and several new players entering the league via the NFL Draft. As we prepare for the 2023 fantasy football season, it’s critical to have a full understanding of each team’s offseason moves. Our NFL team roundup series today covers the Carolina Panthers.

2023 NFL Team Roundup: Carolina Panthers

2022 Results

Record: 7-10; Tied for 2nd in the NFC South 
Season End: Defeated New Orleans 10-7, missed the playoffs

Carolina Panthers Offseason Summary

Draft 

1.01: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
2.39: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
3.80: DJ Johnson, EDGE, Oregon
4.114: Chandler Zavala, G, NC State
5.145: Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State

Bryce Young, QB (1.01)

The first overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, Young is the favorite to earn the starting job over veteran Andy Dalton. There are questions about his size (5-foot-10, 204 lbs), but not about his leadership or winning pedigree. 

Jonathan Mingo, WR (2.39)

Talented wideout with 4.46 speed who played behind Elijah Moore for two seasons at Ole Miss. Posted 51 receptions and 861 receiving yards with 5 receiving touchdowns in 2022 with the Rebels. 

DJ Johnson, EDGE (3.80)

Talented athlete who transitioned from tight end to outside linebacker at Oregon. Will likely serve as a reserve but has a high ceiling as a raw and explosive prospect. 

Chandler Zavala, G (4.114)

With starting guard Austin Corbett now expected to miss regular-season games (ACL), Zavala becomes an important fourth-round draft pick that could play an immediate role. 

Jammie Robinson, S (5.145)

An undersized (5-foot-11, 191 pounds) but aggressive defensive back who provides versatile secondary depth. 

Additions

Free agent signings: QB Andy Dalton, RB Miles Sanders, WR Damiere Byrd. WR DJ Chark, WR Adam Thielen, TE Hayden Hurst, OT Cameron Erving, OG Justin McCray, DL Shy Tuttle, DL DeShawn Williams, LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, S Vonn Bell, S Eric Rowe

Andy Dalton, QB

Dalton is a 35-year-old veteran quarterback who will provide leadership and guidance for first-overall pick, Bryce Young. 

Miles Sanders, RB

Versatile 26-year-old running back is coming off career-highs in rushing attempts (259), rushing yards (1,269) and total touchdowns (11). 

DJ Chark, WR

Chark recovered from a 2021 ankle fracture to post 30/502/3 in 11 games with Detroit. 

Adam Thielen, WR

The former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver turns 34 this year and has seen a decrease in receiving yards and touchdowns in three straight seasons. Will a change of scenery rejuvenate his end zone prowess?

Hayden Hurst, TE

Former first-round draft pick was solid contributor (54/439/2) for loaded Cincinnati offense. 

Departures

QB Sam Darnold, QB PJ Walker, RB D’Onta Foreman, WR Rashard Higgins, WR DJ Moore, WR Andre Roberts, OG Mike Jordan, C Pat Elflein, DL Matt Ioannidis, LB Cory Littleton, LB Damien Wilson, CB T.J. Carrie, S Juston Burris, S Sean Chandler, DB Myles Hartsfield, K Zane Gonzalez 

Sam Darnold, QB

Veteran signal-caller signed with San Francisco.

D’Onta Foreman, RB

The signing of Sanders lessens the impact of this departure, but its worth nothing Foreman produced five games of 100 or more total yards after Week 6. Was a capable replacement for All-Pro Christian McCaffrey. 

DJ Moore, WR

The 26-year-old Moore was traded to Chicago as part of the deal to acquire the first-overall pick in the 2023 draft. Moore ends a five-year career in Carolina, which produced three 1000-yard seasons. 

Carolina Panthers Fantasy Outlook

The five most interesting Panthers fantasy options:

Bryce Young, QB

There will certainly be growing pains for the first overall pick, but Bryce Young‘s 79 passing touchdowns the past two seasons at Alabama provides tantalizing upside. 

Miles Sanders, RB

Carolina head coach Frank Reich has repeatedly said Miles Sanders is a three-down running back, but can the injury-plagued rusher prove last year’s production wasn’t an outlier? 

Jonathan Mingo, WR

At 6-foot-1 with blazing 4.4 speed, Jonathan Mingo has a path to the Carolina WR1 spot as a rookie. Reports have already cited his athleticism and chemistry with Young. 

Adam Thielen, WR

Can be fantasy relevant if his end-zone prowess from Minnesota carries over. Currently listed as the team’s WR1, the primary challenge to his target share is Mingo. 

Hayden Hurst, TE

Athletic veteran with first-round draft capital, Hurst should earn a healthy positional target share over Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble. 

2023 Outlook

DraftKings Sportsbook Wins Over/Under: 7.5 (-120, +100)
NFC South odds: +400

The sportsbooks are bullish on Carolina, despite a head coaching change an influx of new personnel. The bellwether will be the development of Young, which should be aided by the creative offensive mind of Reich. The addition of Ejiro Evero from Denver as defensive coordinator should make a solid Panthers defense even better. The Panthers have the fourth-easiest schedule per opposing Vegas win totals, and were an impressive 4-2 in the division last season. I’m intrigued by this Panthers team, especially with a win total heavily juiced to the over. If the Falcons falter, Carolina could surprise with an NFC South title.