Everything feels different for the Carolina Panthers heading into the 2023 regular season. That’s what hiring a new head coach and drafting a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick will do for you.
Frank Reich and Bryce Young have breathed new life into the Panthers’ organization, but those aren’t the only changes Carolina has made this offseason. The Panthers also added experienced voices up and down their coaching staff while transforming much of their roster via free agent additions.
Can Carolina improve after finishing with a 7-10 record last season? In this betting preview, we break down the Panthers’ betting lines, give out a best bet, and more.
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Carolina Panthers Futures Odds
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook unless noted otherwise.
Super Bowl Odds: +8000
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NFC South Odds: +400
Win Total: 7.5 (Over -105/Under -115)
To Make/Miss the Playoffs: +205/-245
Carolina Panthers Offense
Carolina ranked in the bottom third of most offensive metrics last season, but that’s to be expected when a club runs through three quarterbacks — Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and P.J. Walker — and trades their best offensive player (Christian McCaffrey) in one year.
Young should lead a more accomplished group in 2023. The Panthers’ new set of offensive weapons doesn’t rank among the top half of the NFL, but Carolina has at least given Young a chance to succeed in his rookie season.
Adam Thielen will become Young’s primary target in the receiving corps, while fellow free agent signing DJ Chark should join him — assuming he’s healthy. Chark is uncertain for Week 1 after suffering a hamstring injury, so rookie Jonathan Mingo or holdover Terrace Marshall Jr. could see a larger role early in the season.
Other veterans like running back Miles Sanders and tight end Hayden Hurst are also around, but the Panthers’ offensive line might be a lingering concern, especially if their preseason performance is any indication. Incumbent left tackle Ikem Ekwonu has struggled during the exhibition season, while Carolina will be without starting guard Austin Corbett (ACL) to begin the year.
Carolina Panthers Defense
Squint hard enough, and you can see the Panthers’ defense as a top-10 unit — especially now that Ejiro Evero, one of the hottest coaching candidates during the 2023 cycle, is in town as the club’s coordinator.
Carolina’s main problem last season came in pass defense, as the team ranked as the NFL’s ninth-worst defense in dropback EPA. They’re hoping full seasons from cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Donte Jackson, plus the addition of veterans Vonn Bell and Troy Hill, can help clean up any issues in the back end.
The Panthers waited until August to sign Hill, but he isn’t the only late free agent addition on Carolina’s roster. The team also signed linebacker Deion Jones and edge rusher Justin Houston over the summer, giving them valuable depth along their front.
Houston, particularly, could see starter’s snaps from Day 1 opposite Brian Burns, who remains the Panthers’ best defensive player. Depending on how Burns, Derrick Brown, Frankie Luvu, and other key players perform, Carolina’s defense could surprise and propel Evero into a head coaching job in 2024.
One Betting Trend To Know
Over the past five seasons, games with a rookie starting quarterback have seen unders go 25-10 in September, per Inside Edge. That’s especially relevant to the Panthers as Young begins his first NFL campaign under center in Carolina.
Best Bet for the Panthers in 2023
Robinson: Miles Sanders is coming off the best season of his career, and the Panthers have substantial plans for him in 2023. Sanders posted career highs in attempts (259), rushing yards (1,269), and rushing touchdowns (11) last year and appears poised to serve as Carolina’s bell cow during the upcoming campaign.
But there are reasons to be concerned about Sanders’ projected performance. For one, he stayed healthy for all 17 games a season ago. That was the first time he’d managed a full slate since his rookie year in 2019 and just the second time he’d played at least 13 games.
Sanders already dealt with a groin injury this summer and didn’t play in Carolina’s first two preseason games. He’s back at practice and will be ready for Week 1, but has he already broken the injury seal?
Sanders also had numerous advantages inside the Eagles’ offense in 2022. Philadelphia has the best offensive line in the NFL. Carolina finished 11th in PFN’s most recent OL rankings but struggled throughout the preseason.
Sanders will no longer have to worry about Jalen Hurts stealing carries and yards in the backfield. However, Hurts’ gravity as a rushing threat drew opposing defenders’ attention away from Sanders. Young isn’t immobile by any means, but he’s not a dynamic rusher like Hurts.
MORE: Win-Loss Predictions for Every NFL Team
Additionally, while Sanders finished fifth in the league in rushing yards, his underlying numbers weren’t nearly that impressive. He ranked just 20th in rushing yards over expectation per attempt, 22nd in attempts per broken tackle, and 27th in yards after contact per attempt.
There are just too many reasons to bet against Sanders this year. As such, we’re taking the under on Sanders’ rushing total of 925.5 yards (-105).
