Ranking every NFL team’s offensive supporting cast post-draft
20. Carolina Panthers
RB: Christian McCaffery, Reggie Bonnafon (24/25)
In most cases, I would knock a point or two off for not having a proven or high upside back behind the lead runner. Like with everything else, Christian McCaffery is unique. McCaffery doubles as a runner, receiver, and anything else you want him to be. There are no perfect scores, but he’s the best running back in the league and will be for the foreseeable future.
WR: D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, Curtis Samuel, Pharoh Cooper (21/25)
D.J. Moore had a breakout sophomore campaign with 87 catches and 1,175 yards receiving; he was a great route runner and excelled in yards after the catch. He now gets to play alongside Robby Anderson, an underutilized deep threat who excels at getting behind the defense.
Curtis Samuel may be one of the most underrated receivers in the league, as he has tremendous speed and can break any play for a score. They aren’t among the highest ranked, because they certainly have limitations, but I love this group.
TE: Ian Thomas, Chris Manhertz (17/25)
With Greg Olsen gone, it’s up to Ian Thomas to carry the load as the team’s first-string tight end. Thomas has shown some promise in his limited action, but he’s far from a certainty at this point in his career. Given his backup only caught one pass last year, tight end is certainly the weakest group on Carolina’s offense.
Offensive Line: Russell Okung, John Miller, Matt Paradis, Dennis Daley, Taylor Moton (17/25)
The Panthers gave up a league-high 58 sacks in 2019, but that apparently didn’t raise any alarms in the organization. They traded away a young, upstart guard in Trai Turner for an aging veteran left tackle in Russell Okung. Their only other addition was John Miller, who will be on his third NFL team in three years. McCaffery makes the Carolina offensive line look better than it is, and it could come back to bite them later in the season.
Total Score: 79/100
Summary: Teddy Bridgewater will have one of the better skill position groups at his disposal, but his abysmal offensive line could cause trouble for a young passer who played behind one of the best offensive lines in the league last season. Luckily, he’ll have Christian McCaffery and D.J. Moore as outlets that excel in creating yards and avoiding contact.