Here are the three biggest concerns for the Carolina Panthers following a brutal loss to the New England Patriots in week four, 42-13.
After a brutal loss to the New England Patriots in week four, the Carolina Panthers are now 1-3 to kick off their 2025 NFL season.
It was clear to many analysts across the NFL that the franchise would not be competing for a Super Bowl this season, but fans were excited about the potential of the roster in the near future. However, there are still lingering issues for the Panthers after the first four games of the season, and will need to be fixed in order to take the team to the next level.
Here are the primary concerns for Carolina this season and how they can be addressed.
Carolina’s Pass Rush
Out of all the issues that have occurred for the organization thus far in 2025, the Panthers’ pass rush continues to be the primary concern for the struggling franchise.
Last year, the defense’s 32 sacks were tied for the 30th most in the NFL in 2024, but without an established pass rusher like former Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney up front, the team’s front four has been significantly worse this season. The Panthers now rank dead last in sacks through four games, as defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton and rookie Princely Umanmielen are the only players to record a sack.
The problems up front on defense have haunted the franchise ever since general manager Dan Morgan decided to trade star EDGE rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants during the 2024 offseason. And despite selecting back-to-back defensive ends in the second and third rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, Carolina has yet to resolve the pass rush.
Luckily for the Panthers, rookie Nic Scourton is beginning to show flashes of becoming an efficient EDGE through the first four games of the season. But if the organization wants to take its pass rush to the next level, it’s clear that next year’s first-round pick must be used on a defensive end. Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and Auburn’s Keldric Faulk are two names that Carolina fans should keep an eye on over the course of the 2025 college football season.
Inconsistency in the Run Game
Shifting over to the offensive side of the ball, the Panthers’ run game this season has been underwhelming and key reason why the offense is struggling under head coach Dave Canales.
After finishing the 2024 season with 1,195 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, running back Chuba Hubbard received an extension from the organization this past offseason. Unfortunately for the offense, Hubbard has only recorded 217 rushing yards and zero touchdowns on 53 carries, putting him at an average of 4.1 yards per carry. This is a slight decline from his production last year (4.8 yards per carry), and should be closely monitored for the rest of the season.
One of the contributing reasons to Hubbard’s lack of consistency this year is partly due to the offensive line, which continues to cause problems in both the pass and run game. However, Hubbard could benefit from a consistent pace of play back to assist him in his efforts, especially one that offers elite speed on the outside. Morgan signed former Dallas Cowboys’ rusher Rico Dowdle this offseason, but the 27-year-old playmaker has averaged 3.0 yards per carry on 28 attempts.
Lack of Offensive Playmakers
In addition to the woes within the run game, it’s obvious that Carolina’s offense needs more weapons for quarterback Bryce Young.
2025 first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan already looks like a home-run selection for the offense, as he ranks 12th in the NFL in receiving yards with 278. But outside of the talented rookie, there has not been a pass catcher to emerge as a second option for Young in the passing game. Second-year wideout Brycen Tremayne has the second-most receiving yards this season with 99 yards, while former 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette has shown no signs of taking the next step.
If the Panthers want Young to succeed with the franchise, Morgan must look ahead once again to the 2026 NFL Draft to fill the void. There are multiple pass catchers projected to land in the second round, including Auburn’s Eric Singleton Jr. The shifty slot receiver would be perfect alongside McMillan and offers a different skill set to the rest of the room.