The Carolina Panthers enter the 2025 preseason with high hopes for improvement, but their glaring weakness in the secondary remains a point of concern. Despite offseason moves to address the issue, there are still significant questions about the unit’s ability to perform at a high level.
The team extended Jaycee Horn with a lucrative four-year deal, solidifying him as the cornerstone of the secondary. However, beyond Horn, the depth chart is riddled with uncertainty. Free-agent addition Tre’von Moehrig brings potential as a safety, but the team is relying heavily on unproven players like rookie Lathan Ransom to step into starting roles.
This lack of experience could be exposed as the season unfolds. Other cornerbacks, including Mike Jackson and Chau Smith-Wade, will need to elevate their play significantly.
Jackson showed flashes of competence last season, but consistency remains an issue. Meanwhile, Smith-Wade is entering a critical phase in his development as he competes for a slot corner role. The Panthers’ faith in these players underscores the team’s gamble on internal growth rather than proven talent.
NFL Analysis Points Out Carolina Panthers’ Secondary As Team’s Major Weakness
Carolina must find a way to improve its secondary ahead of the 2025 season. This is detailed in an analysis by Alex Ballentine for Bleacher Report.
Biggest Weakness: Secondary
Jaycee Horn got a four-year, $100 million extension this spring. That was a critical step to keep the building block in the secondary. The rest still feels like it’s still under construction.
The Panthers will hope free-agent signee Tre’von Moehrig can be an upgrade in the safety room. However, they’re also relying on fourth-round pick Lathan Ransom to compete with Nick Scott and Demani Richardson to take over the other safety spot.
The other non-Jaycee Horn corners don’t necessarily inspire confidence, either. Chau Smith-Wade needs to take the next step as the slot cornerback, while Mike Jackson and Akayleb Evans could compete for the other outside corner spot. There are simply more questions than answers in the back half right now.
The defensive front, led by Derrick Brown and Tershawn Wharton, is expected to alleviate some pressure on the secondary. A stronger pass rush could mask deficiencies in coverage, but this strategy is far from foolproof. If the secondary falters, even a dominant interior line may not be enough to keep the defense competitive.
With limited options to improve the roster further, the Panthers are effectively betting on their young secondary to rise to the occasion. This approach carries significant risk, especially in a division with formidable passing attacks. For Carolina to contend, they must find answers to the lingering questions in the backfield. Otherwise, their defensive struggles could derail their season.
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