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The Carolina Panthers won the NFC South in 2025 and gave the Los Angeles Rams a tough game in the playoffs.
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Any time a team makes the playoffs, it’s natural to go into the following season with high expectations. The Panthers are no exception, as they are definitely optimistic in 2026 as the NFC South seemingly remains very winnable.
The NFL insiders at ESPN recently revealed their future NFL power rankings. Each NFL team was ranked based off how good they are expected to be from 2027 to 2029. When it comes to the Panthers, there’s an obvious reason to be excited about the future.
Panthers’ Best Players are All Younger
Looking at some contenders, the majority of their most important pieces are older. The Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers, for example, have star quarterbacks who probably don’t have much time left.
The Panthers, however, are in the opposite camp. As ESPN’s Aaron Schatz pointed out, the Panthers only have one starter (possibly two now), who is over 30 years old.
“Safety Nick Scott, who is 31, is the only projected Panthers starter over the age of 30,” Schatz explained. “The wide receivers are particularly young, including the reserves; other than veteran David Moore (also 31), John Metchie III is the oldest at 26.”
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As Schatz mentioned, safety Nick Scott is the only starter past the dreaded age of 30. The team did recently add Darren Waller, 33, and he could start at tight end, but only two starters above 30 is still not bad.
Jaycee Horn, Bryce Young, Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, and Jonathon Brooks are just some of the key players who are 26 or younger heading into the 2026 season. This means the key players should not only have several years of quality play left, but it’s possible we haven’t even seen their best yet.
Horn has blossomed into one of the best corners in the league, while McMillan won the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award last season. Brooks has barely played in the NFL, so he doesn’t have much wear and tear, and he’s looked like the future of the running back room this summer.
Plus, the Panthers have the 2026 rookie class, and the early returns have been extremely promising. First-round pick Monroe Freeling is slated to start at right tackle, while Lee Hunter is a physical freak on the defensive line. It’s possible the Panthers’ young core looks even more promising this time next year.
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This story was originally published August 18, 2026 at 8:22 AM.