A key part to the Carolina Panthers' defense was ranked among the worst in the NFL.
The Carolina Panthers are looking to improve on their 2025 season, one in which they won the NFC South for the first time in over 10 seasons. While Carolina won the NFC South with a 8-9 record and a tiebreaker, many want them to prove that they are a legit contender.
But in order to do that, they need to improve in key areas.
While the biggest storyline on offense is with the play of quarterback on Bryce Young, the defense has a few areas needed for improvement. That includes the pass rush.
Carolina's pass rush struggled last season. A boost there should help the defense overall and help them get better. The Panthers did sign Jaelan Phillips to a big deal this offseason and the addition of Devin Lloyd should help them generate pressure as well. But even so, the Panthers' pass rush is ranked pretty poor.
Carter Bahns of CBS Sports ranked the pass rush for each team in the NFL going into the 2026 season. He has the Panthers ranked No. 31 overall which is second-worst in the league. Here is what Bahns had to say about the Panthers:
If not for the injury Nic Scourton sustained on the first day of training camp, the Panthers would rank a healthy number of spots higher. Instead, his season is over before it even begins due to a torn ACL. Neither Phillips nor Jones is exactly reliable in terms of staying on the field, either, so the bottom has the threat of really falling out from underneath this group. Phillips is a plus starter when healthy, though, like he was all of last year.
While the addition of Phillips should help, he's also a guy who has never had more than 10 sacks in a single season. He's going to need to prove his worth in terms of the pass rush.
The loss of Scourton also hurts the Panthers. He was projected to be the guy opposite of Phillips that could benefit from not being double teamed. Now, they will need someone else to step up and fill in that role.
