Carolina Panthers 2026 Off-season Mailbag: Training Camp Answers To All Your Questions!

Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! We’re into the heart of the preseason before the Preseason. Let’s talk!

Revshawn: As the two time, back-to-back, champion of the LPL Financial C3 Fantasy Football league I wish you well in your coming battles Brian. I hope that you crush all of your rivals and bring home the coveted Cat Scratch Reader Grand Champion trophy. A honor only bestowed upon the grandest of champions that outfought, outlasted, and outthunk their enemies.

I appreciate the gesture, kind sir. I have three leagues; a bigger money fantasy league (1 QB, 2RB, TE, 2 WR, 2 WR/TE/RB flex, K, Def) league, a dynasty league, and a family 2 QB league. In my 1st league, I’ve been in it since 2018. Most points scored all time, been to the finals 4 times. 0-4. Hoping to get the championship this season. I’ll let you know if we lock it in this year!

Dcangio09: What’s your Barometer for Bryce Young to get a worthwhile extension? Mine is a successful offense, winning team unless major injuries occur and minimum 7.0 YPA displaying actual NFL level production and efficiency as a passer compared to his historically low marks to date.

I’m kind of in the same boat. I’d like to see him around the middle tier at least statistically in passing yards, yards per attempt, and touchdowns (though rushing TDs should be counted). I’m not expecting him to ever have a 2015 Cam Newton season, but when he’s on I think he’s solid enough to beat most teams in the NFL with some help. I want to see consistency and around 10-15 QB production before I’d ever consider an extension this off-season. We’ll see. Luckily, they don’t HAVE to make that decision this off-season. But a major statistical overhaul would make that decision a bit easier.

Coach_K: There should be some good battles for positions this offseason; unlucky that practices will not be available to the public, lucky we got 4 preseason games. But there is one that keeps mentioned getting traded and he’s a Charlotte fave in Leggette. I don’t think our WR corps is legit enough, so I’m curious if we get another guy in (via trade?) or if Horn or Metchie steps up. I wouldn’t count on our tight ends to fill up that stat sheet. What is Leggette’s contract situation if he can’t find his footing?

I think Xavier Legette gets every opportunity to take the WR3/4 spot this season. I think he’ll get mixed in a bit regardless of how much Chris Brazell plays. But if he continues to be in the same position he was in 2025, I don’t see Carolina re-signing him. He’s going to be safe next season just because he’s on a rookie deal, but this is the year to take a major step forward, if it’s ever coming.

@WTMealey: Preseason watching mode?

1 screen-all in sound on engaged the whole time

2 screens sound on main screen and it has my attention, but if its a commercial or I get a notification phone is now the priority

3 screens-doing work/surfing on laptop phone face up for notifications and texts tv on but is kinda background noise unless there’s a score or turnover-sound low but barely loud enough to hear big plays

It depends on the week for me. The first game of the preseason always keeps me engaged the whole time, or at least until the 4th quarter. I generally hit the “oh yeah, this is preseason” wall within a couple of drives, but I like to watch for players I’m impressed with anyway (Corey Thornton and Lathan Ransom as examples). I generally stay in the same neighborhood for the 2nd week, though its mostly just to post about observations on CSR’s social media accounts. By the 3rd game I’m very much just paying attention just because I have to, so several other screens are being used.

schrodingersblackcat: Brian, what’s going through Greg Olsen’s head these days watching the guy who took his job play-pretend being a pro wrestler with the likes of Logan Paul?

Greg’s a smart guy, I’m sure he’s appreciating the business Tom Brady is working (wrestling term for those not in the know) with Logan Paul. Nothing wrong with garnering interest in a public feud that will likely pay off with a “wrestling match” between two celebrities.

SnarkyComet: I was watching a YT channel’s preview of the 2026 Panthers and they mentioned that we have the worst TE room in the league.

But, taking our bias out of it, is that objectively true? Do we have the absolute worst TE unit in the league? Do you think we should possibly make a move for someone to strengthen that position before the season starts? If so, who would be a reasonable good fit for Canales/Idzick’s scheme? And who would be the odd man out?

This iteration of the Panthers just doesn’t rely on tight ends as receivers as much as they have in the past. I think they all do a little bit of different things, which helps mitigate not having a Brock Bowers or George Kittle or Greg Olsen in the room. It might be the “worst” tight end room in the NFL, but I really don’t think that matters too much for what the Panthers do. They task them with blocking and Ja’Tavion Sanders fills that receiver specialist role. I think it made sense to invest elsewhere on this team and keep the room they have for the most part. So I’m not projecting any major signings at the position.

positivebob: After being around DC’s camps for a couple of years, what kind of practices does he run? I know the routine changes and the intensity ramps up as they get closer to week 1, but in general does he run a physical camp, live tackling, full speed, lots of contact? More half speed, walk throughs? More individual drills, 7×7, situational football? Rookies and long shots get extended looks, how much do guys move between 1st, 2nd, 3rd teams? What does a DC TC look like?

I didn’t want to ignore your question, but honestly I don’t have any better idea of what training camp looks like than any of you. The Panthers do seem to mix in guys they have conviction for with the first team (Jonathon Brooks already is getting reps with the first team). I haven’t seen anything substantial to think their camp is much different than your average NFL team though. I was a bit surprised that they declared OT Monroe Freeling the starting right tackle this early into training camp, so it seems they don’t stick to any one philosophy so much as just analyze the current roster and make calls based on that.

Bull123: tough news about Moton…sounds like he is gonna be out for a while

first off hope he is OK & makes a full recovery…blood clots you do not mess around with

do you think Panthers have known this for a while?…signing BC is a result of this news?

No idea how long Taylor Moton will be out, but the team has come up with a plan as mentioned above. I don’t think the Panthers knew this prior to June, and Brady Christensen hasn’t really ever been used at tackle since Dave Canales became the head coach that I can remember. I think he’s purely an interior lineman, but he has played at both tackle positions in the past. I don’t think signing him was a reaction to Moton’s diagnosis as much as just bringing in depth they already needed.

dayneb12: I feel a good chunk of this year’s draft class has a chance to be starters at some point. Which rookies do you expect to start immediately and which do you expect will be starters before this season ends?

Obviously, Monroe Freeling will end up starting at RT right away with the Moton news. I would expect DL Lee Hunter to be heavily involved early, especially if Bobby Brown’s injury turns out to be longer term. Beyond that, maybe C Sam Hecht will start right away but I am not holding my breath on that. I do think its possible Hecht and S Zakee Wheatley could be starting by the end of the season. CB Will Lee could also be a starter if there’s any significant injury to one of the Panthers outside corners. He seems to be a fit for what the Panthers do there but I can’t imagine him usurping Mike Jackson unless Mike just can’t play.

JakeNCVA: What is your definition of a “Franchise Quarterback”?

I went ahead and linked your whole question since you had quite a lot of your own commentary on the question.

In my mind, a franchise quarterback is the guy who gives you a good chance to win the Super Bowl. And a guy that the team rallies behind and believes in. I don’t think they have to be widely considered a top 3-5 guy to be a franchise quarterback, but the vision for a realistic path to winning it all has to be there. Bryce may not fit my first criteria at all, but he does at least fit my second, which is less of an on the field thing and more of a leadership thing. The guys believe in Bryce, so that does count for something. But he’s not a franchise quarterback to me at this point.

Thanks everyone for all the questions! We’ll continue this mailbag and training camp coverage throughout the coming weeks. KEEP POUNDING!