Two key players for the Panthers football team are at risk of losing their starting positions before the 2025 NFL season begins.
Carolina Panthers Facing Intense Competition at Key Positions Ahead of 2025 Season
The Carolina Panthers are gearing up for the 2025 season with some notable positional battles on their depth chart. According to the team's unofficial 2025 depth chart, slot receiver Adam Thielen is currently listed as a starter, but he faces stiff competition from younger players like Hunter Renfrow and rookie Jalen Coker.
Thielen, who took about 73% of his snaps in the slot in 2024, maintains that role in 2025. However, Renfrow, a former Pro Bowler, and Coker, who impressed in the offseason, threaten his playing time. The 33-year-old Thielen led the team in receiving yards the last two seasons, but his age and production could pressure him to relinquish his starting spot.
At edge rusher/OLB, Patrick Jones II remains listed as a starter, but he is vulnerable to losing snaps. The Panthers’ defense is looking to improve after struggles in 2024, and Jones, despite having starter-level pay, is challenged by rookies like Princely Umanmielen and another rookie linebacker. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero prefers using a third linebacker in many packages, potentially limiting Jones’s snaps if the younger players develop quickly.
The most dynamic competition for starting roles is clearly at slot receiver and edge rusher, where youth and development are pushing veterans like Thielen and Jones. The team also selected Ole Miss prospect Princely Umanmielen in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and they are anticipating the debut of rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
The Panthers returned 19 starters, including all 11 on offense, and made significant moves in free agency, signing former Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle and former Pro Bowl receiver Hunter Renfrow. Their biggest free agency signing was former Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton.
The team's future may lie with Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, who both have the athleticism and raw talent to potentially become immediate contributors on the Panthers' defense. Scourton, a second-round draft pick from Texas A&M, could push Jones for playing time, and Umanmielen, a third-round pick from Ole Miss, could challenge Thielen for snaps at slot receiver.
The Panthers will need to maintain strong performances from Thielen and Jones to secure their spots, as the rookies are eager to make their mark in the NFL. With the 2025 season fast approaching, the Panthers are poised for an exciting and competitive training camp.
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- Rumors of potential draft picks Tetairoa McMillan and Princely Umanmielen might threaten Adam Thielen's starting role at slot receiver, as both rookies are anticipated to make their debuts.
- In the NFL, the edge rusher/OLB position is shrouded in question, with Patrick Jones II losing ground to rookies Princely Umanmielen and another linebacker due to the defensive coordinator's preference for a third linebacker in many packages.
- Despite the Carolina Panthers returning 19 starters for the 2025 season and making significant moves in free agency, both Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, rookies with promising potential, aim to challenge starters Adam Thielen (slot receiver) and Patrick Jones II (edge rusher/OLB) for their playing time in American football.
