The Carolina Panthers are in a good spot at most positions entering the 2026 season.
The team is fresh off a division win and playoff appearance in 2025, and the expectations are high for the 2026 campaign. For the most part, the weakest parts of the roster were addressed in free agency and the draft, but it's hard to make everything perfect in one offseason.
If you're wondering what the biggest question mark is, it has to be the offensive line. The Panthers will be without both starting tackles for the foreseeable future. Ikem Ekwonu got hurt in the playoffs, while Taylor Moton was recently diagnosed with blood clots.
It's a good thing the team drafted Monroe Freeling in the first round and signed Rasheed Walker in free agency, or things would be much more dire. Even with those additions, the Panthers find themselves near the bottom of offensive line rankings.
Panthers Offensive Line Ranked No. 24
Logan Ulrich of NFL Trade Rumors recently ranked every projected starting offensive line. The Panthers came in at No. 24 due to the uncertainty at tackle and center.
"It's a credit to how the Panthers attacked the offseason that they're down two starting tackles and still in reasonably solid shape," Ulrich said. "The strength of the unit is a punishing duo at guard, and the Panthers want to be a run-heavy team to take pressure off their quarterback."
As Ulrich mentioned, the Panthers do have an enviable guard duo in Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. Hunt missed all but two games in 2025, but he was a Pro Bowler in 2024.
Lewis, meanwhile, started 16 games in both 2024 and 2025 and earned a 75.7 PFF grade last season, which ranked 11th out of 81 qualified guards.
At center, the Panthers seem content to start veteran Luke Fortner. Fortner had a mediocre 2025 season, and he's typically been a better pass blocker than run blocker, which makes him an interesting fit in Carolina.
The biggest question will be whether or not Walker and Freeling can be a serviceable duo. If they can be, then the Panthers are in good shape. If they struggle, then the Panthers will be in rough shape, at least until the starters return later in the season.
In Ulrich's rankings, the Atlanta Falcons are the only NFC South line ranked lower than the Panthers. It will be interesting to see how much higher the Panthers' line is ranked once all five members are healthy once again.
