The Carolina Panthers pushed through a pair of transactions Saturday that had the appearance of a possible tank job but were actually the moves of a front office that was starting to turn the page on the 2024 season.

There is a slight difference between the two. Had the former been in the game, quarterback Bryce Young would not have started and played the entire 48-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, however limited the offensive moments and time on the field proved to be.

And if the game had had any significance in terms of a playoff berth – something unheard of in Charlotte since 2017 – Young probably would have been joined in the backfield by running back Chuba Hubbard. Instead, the Panthers requested that their 1,100-yard rusher be shut down to prevent him from causing further damage to his strained calf or other body parts in the final two games of the season.

The second transaction on Saturday also took place with an eye to the future. The Panthers signed third-string quarterback Jack Plummer from the practice squad not to start against the Bucs, but to prevent other teams that might have been interested in the undrafted rookie from delisting him for future assignment Take training team.

A day after the trades, the Panthers provided three hours of evidence in Tampa that it’s wise to focus on the future rather than fiddle with the embers of a smoldering 4-12 season.

That’s what The athlete aims to take a look at every player on the Panthers’ 53-man roster and injured reserve, starting with a look at 29 players on offense. Here’s a thought for each of the 34 defensive and special teams players.

Quarterbacks

Bryce Young: Dave Canales still hasn’t made any big statements about Young being the quarterback of the future. But Canales has coached the offense long enough to see the progress Young has made this year. His accuracy, confidence and ability to make plays in and out of the pocket have skyrocketed since returning from his five-week stint on the bench. Young’s elevation gives the Panthers the freedom to use their free agent dollars and draft picks on other needs, which are varied.

Andy Dalton: Everything changed in the QB room when Dalton injured his thumb in a two-car accident on an off day in October. The 37-year-old handled the QB change with class and said he would like to return in 2025 in his role as backup and “good steward” to Young.

Jack Plummer: The Panthers saw enough from the former Louisville quarterback and exclusive free agent to keep him around.

Running backs

Chuba Hubbard: Not much more needs to be said about Hubbard, one of the team’s hardest workers who got paid and continued to produce. Hubbard completed the fourth-best rushing season in Panthers history despite missing the final two games.

Jonathan Brooks: From a football perspective, Dan Morgan gambled and lost by drafting a running back coming off ACL surgery in the second round. From a human perspective, re-torn ligaments were devastating for a 21-year-old who lost his father while in college and had spent a year working his way back.

Miles Sanders: Sanders averaged 5.0 yards per carry in Philadelphia, then 3.4 yards in Carolina after signing a four-year, $25.4 million free agent contract that the Panthers acquired this offseason by eating 2, $95 million in dead money.

Raheem Blackshear: The return specialist is exposed with extended time in the backfield, as was the case in Tampa.

Mike Boone: Depending on Sanders’ status, Canales Boone is likely to get the majority of the broadcasts in Atlanta this week.

Recipient

Adam Thielen: The passing offense suffered in the seven weeks that Thielen was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Thielen, who turns 35 next season, is still a valuable piece on a receiving corps that needs another playmaker.

Xavier Legette: The first-round pick from South Carolina said he will likely need surgery on his left wrist after the season. He refused to attribute the injury to his drops, several of which came from perfectly placed deep balls from Young.

Jalen Coker: One could argue that the undrafted rookie from Holy Cross has outperformed the more highly touted Legette. That was certainly the case on downfield throws, where Coker had a knack for landing more often than most. The deciding factor for Coker coming out of college was his speed, but his 21.15 mph speed on an 83-yard touchdown catch against the Dallas Cowboys was the fastest for a Panthers ball carrier since DJ Moore in 2021 .

Coker 83 yards to the house!

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/tNU6kz0H9u

– Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 15, 2024

David Moore: The former Seattle Seahawks wideout has a high career target rate (54) and is expected to receive a bonus in the NFL’s performance-based compensation system.

Deven Thompson: The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Thompkins showed explosiveness when given a chance on special teams.

Dan Chisena: The career special teams player caught the first three passes of his career this year.

Velus Jones Jr.: The Panthers signed Velus, a Laviska Shenault-style receiver/running back, from the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad after Brooks’ ACL injury.

Tight ends

Tommy Tremble: The 2021 third-round pick battled a back injury and other ailments in a contract year. Although he never developed into a major receiving weapon, Tremble’s work ethic and all-around ability make him worthy of re-signing.

Ian Thomas: The Panthers placed Thomas on IR after the Munich game because of a calf injury. He has almost certainly played his last snap with the team.

Ja’Tavion Sanders: The fourth-round pick from Texas played in several big games in October and November but seemed to be hitting a rookie ceiling. His 5-yard catch against the Bucs was his first reception in four games.

Feleipe Franks: The former Florida quarterback stuck around all season because of his high value on special teams, where he was a bit overzealous at times.

Offensive line

Austin Corbett: After signing as a free agent in 2022, Corbett boasted a championship resume and leadership. However, he suffered three serious injuries starting in Week 18 of the 2022 season. With Cade Mays playing well at center and the Panthers just spending big on two guards, the Panthers will likely allow Corbett to hit free agency.

Robert Hunt: Did the Panthers overpay Hunt with a five-year, $100 million contract? Probably. But he solidified the interior of the line and was the guy Canales ran Hubbard behind when the Panthers needed strong yardage, especially at the goal line.

Damien Lewis: With his big personality and quotable personality, Hunt has garnered most of the media’s attention. But according to Pro Football Focus, Lewis performed better than Hunt in run and pass blocking.

Taylor Moton: Moton’s ironman streak reached 120 games and 104 starts before he injured his left triceps in Week 5 in Chicago and missed the next two games. Moton is expected to count $31 million against the salary cap next season and will likely be asked to take a pay cut, similar to how Jordan Gross was near the end of his career.

Ikem Ekwonu: The former NC State mauler bounced back from a rough 2023 and was more reliable in pass protection, with the Cowboys’ game being a notable exception. The Panthers must decide whether to pick up Ekwonu’s fifth-year option, which is expected to be around $17 million. Another option would be to extend it to a lower AAV.

Cade Mays: It was a tumultuous season for Mays, who was released in August as part of final cuts, was released from the Giants’ practice squad after Corbett tore his biceps, and then replaced Brady Christensen as the starting center. Mays, a restricted free agent, appears likely to be back in the starting lineup in 2025.

Brady Christensen: The All-American tackle at BYU started three games at center and two at left tackle. He can also fill in as a guard. It will be interesting to see what price teams will pay for that kind of versatility when Christensen first hits free agency.

Yosh Nijman: The swing tackle started in place of the injured Moton on Sunday in Tampa as Young was pressured on 68.6 percent of his dropbacks, the highest rate in the NFL this season.

Chandler Zavala: After starting seven games as a rookie, Zavala moved to blocking tight end (“#62 qualifies”) this season after the Panthers upgraded at guard.

Jarrett Kingston: The Panthers need to see something in rookie Kingston, who they kept around all year after acquiring guard off waivers from San Francisco in August.

(Top photo by Jalen Coker: Bob Donnan / Imagn Images)