It's been fascinating to see things develop across the Carolina Panthers this offseason. David Tepper realized that his woeful management as owner wasn't working. He's taking a step back and hired people capable of improving the football operation. It's so far, so good in that regard.
Things look more encouraging from a fan perspective. There's an aligned vision between those in positions of power. There's clear direction from Dave Canales and his coaching staff. They've set short and long-term objectives and have everyone working in unison to achieve them.
That doesn't sound like much, but it's a far cry from how things were run under the previous two coaching regimes. Players have responded well over early workouts. This trend must continue when preparations gather pace for the 2024 campaign.
With this in mind, here are three Panthers players who must build on promising offseason starts at Carolina's training camp in Charlotte.
Trevin Wallace - Carolina Panthers LB
One of the more surprising draft picks centered on Trevin Wallace. The linebacker had a big fan in general manager Dan Morgan, who scooped up the dynamic playmaker at No. 72 overall. Many thought the Carolina Panthers should have addressed greater needs, but there should be a level of trust attached.
Morgan knows what it takes to be a productive NFL linebacker. He was dominant at the collegiate level before taking the league by storm in Carolina. If he thinks Wallace has what it takes, that should be enough to convince fans skeptical of the decision.
Wallace made an encouraging start over early workouts. The former Kentucky star looked explosive and slotted in well. This is a strong start, but watching his progress during Carolina's training camp and preseason games will provide a broader perception of his role in 2024.
There's an opening for Wallace to be the primary backup behind Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell. He could even raise confidence enough to be deployed as a starter alongside the aforementioned veteran duo in varied defensive alignments. We'll see what he's made of when the pads go on at camp.
Chuba Hubbard - Carolina Panthers RB
Dave Canales set out his offensive philosophy soon after taking the head coaching job. He wants the Carolina Panthers to run the football heavily. He wants their ground game to open things up for quarterback Bryce Young. He wants physicality from the offensive line and every member of the roster to be fundamentally sound.
That should be music to the ears of Carolina's playing personnel. Dan Morgan also strategized his recruitment around this objective throughout a busy offseason for the franchise. The protection received a much-needed boost, the skill positions got upgraded, and the Panthers also got a promising young running back when they traded up for Jonathon Brooks at No. 46 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
This shows that no position group will be overlooked in pursuit of progression. Competition is increasing across the board. Players will either sink or swim during Carolina's road to future prosperity. Morgan will weed out the weak and move forward with those he believes can fit into the Panthers' culture restoration.
Chuba Hubbard's impressive start to early workouts indicates he's responding well to raised standards. The former fourth-round selection made some encouraging progress over the last two seasons. He's cemented as the No. 1 running back right now. He'll be striving to make sure that remains the case when Brooks is 100 percent following a torn ACL.
Hubbard received praise from Canales for his production and emerging leadership. This is all positive for the Oklahoma State product, but he cannot rest on his laurels and become complacent with others chomping at the bit to accumulate their fair share of carries.
This won't be a problem for Hubbard. He's risen from adversity following an indifferent rookie campaign to become a featured presence on offense. If the presence of Brooks and others wasn't enough to add motivation, this is also a contract year for the player.
If Hubbard stays on track over Carolina's training camp and thrives during the regular season, a new long-term deal won't be too far behind. Whether that's with the Panthers or elsewhere is another matter.
Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers QB
There was another reason Dave Canales was given the keys to the kingdom. His sterling work with struggling quarterbacks is highly respected in league circles. Doing the same with Bryce Young comes with substantial benefits attached.
Young is a talented guy with a cool persona. He deserves praise for navigating an immensely difficult rookie season well enough that it didn't knock his long-term chances. Others with a weaker will would have had their confidence battered beyond the brink. Thankfully for the Panthers, their prized possession is made of sterner stuff.
The Heisman Trophy winner wasn't without blame last season. Footwork issues let him down on occasion. Young's deep ball accuracy came in for criticism. Deciphering when to get rid of the football before pressure arrived became another ongoing frustration.
Canales is here to change all that. He got to work on improving Young's fundamentals. The coaching staff is looking for their signal-caller to get rid of the football within their allotted 2.7-second timeframe. This brought a positive response from the player over early off-season workouts.
There was a noticeable improvement in Young's footwork and overall mechanics according to those in attendance. It's a small sample size, but it's a clear sign that Canales' improved teachings are having the desired effect. Building on this newfound positivity when training camp commences is paramount to raising confidence further.
Things will be intense and the margins will be slimmer when the pads go on. Young must demonstrate growth and emerge as a leader others can follow. It's something he's emphasized throughout preparations so far. This must continue before Week 1 at the New Orleans Saints.
The Panthers cannot afford their significant investment in Young to fall by the wayside. They need him to become the franchise-caliber presence most analysts projected pre-draft. Everyone needs to get behind the former Alabama star.
Young's supporting cast is much improved. There's a clear vision for his ongoing development. What comes next is down to the player.
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