Carolina Panthers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Carolina Panthers have signed free-agent running back Rico Dowdle on Wednesday. The two sides have agreed on a one-year, $6.25 million deal for the upcoming season. On paper, Dowdle is a good fit with the Panthers who certainly need depth behind Chuba Hubbard. Last season, Dowdle rushed for over 1,000 yards across 15 games with the Dallas Cowboys. It's also worth noting that Dowdle hauled in 39 receptions for 249 yards and three touchdowns through the air. This is a low-risk move that should help the Panthers while former second-round pick Jonathon Brooks (knee) recovers from injury.

According to a person with knowledge of the Dallas Cowboys' thinking, the team signing former Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams in free agency means that RB Rico Dowdle won't return in 2025. Williams is regarded as a comparable talent to Dowdle and is more cost effective, according to the Dallas Morning News' David Moore. The Cowboys are committed to selecting a running back in April's draft as well, and they will likely compete with Williams for backfield touches in 2025. This news comes after executive Stephen Jones said at the end of last month that Dallas was hoping to re-sign Dowdle, who had his first 1,000-yard rushing season and two touchdowns on 235 rushing attempts as the team's lead back in 2024. Meanwhile, Williams averaged a mediocre 3.7 yards per carry and had 513 rushing yards and four touchdowns in Denver while losing the starting gig midway through the season.

The Carolina Panthers are re-signing tight end Tommy Tremble to a two-year deal. Joe Person of The Athletic reported the news. Tremble spent the last four seasons with Carolina after being selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, though he never eclipsed 23 receptions or 234 yards -- figures he reached this past season in only 12 games. The 24-year-old acted as the Panthers' primary TE for most of the 2024 season but split time pretty evenly with then-rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders near the season's end. Carolina's offense ended last season on the up-swing. Still, uncertainty surrounding the Notre Dame product's role in the offense should cause fantasy managers pause before dumping a pick into him this offseason. Despite the potential upside of the Panthers' pass attack manned by an improving Bryce Young, Tremble is worth nothing more than a late-round best ball flyer at this point.

The Charlotte Observer's Xavier Legette (foot) avoided wrist surgery but did have foot surgery this offseason, according to general manager Dan Morgan. Legette played through a foot injury in his first year in the NFL in 2024, which likely played a part in his disappointing showing. After the Panthers selected him 32nd overall out of South Carolina, the 24-year-old struggled to get on the same page with second-year quarterback and caught only 49 of his 84 targets for 497 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games (13 starts). Legette may be forced to miss organized team activities this spring, but he should be fully recovered from his foot surgery in time for the start of training camp this summer. He'll be looking to make a jump in Year 2 in Carolina, but the likely return of veteran Adam Thielen (he was contemplating retirement) could make things more difficult for the former first-rounder.

The Carolina Panthers and quarterback Andy Dalton agreed on a two-year, $8 million deal on Tuesday that includes $6 million guaranteed and has a maximum value of $10 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The veteran signal-caller will remain in Carolina, where he's developed a close relationship with starter Bryce Young. Dalton, 37, ended up making five starts for the Panthers in 2024 after the team benched Young following his slow start. In his six appearances in his second year in Carolina, the Red Rifle completed 66.3% of his 160 pass attempts for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions before suffering a thumb injury in a car accident that gave the Panthers a reason to go back to Young to end the year. Young looked the best he has in his young career to close out 2024, so Dalton will be entrenched as his backup entering the 2025 season.