The Carolina Panthers are coming off their first division title in 10 years, and finally look to be ready to compete with true playoff contenders again. Credit general manager Dan Morgan for building up the roster, which has transformed from the worst in the NFL a few years ago to an above-average group going into 2026.
But where do they need to improve most as they try to defend their NFC South crown?
According to Aaron Schatz at ESPN, the Panthers’ biggest roster hole this year is at running back. Schatz writes:
The Panthers let Rico Dowdle leave in free agency and are planning to start Chuba Hubbard, who was excellent in 2024 but last year had the lowest avoided tackle rate among backs with at least 100 carries, according to FTN charting… Carolina ranked ninth in run offense DVOA for the first half of the season, but only 22nd from Week 10 onward.
Hubbard, the projected starter for 2026, did have a down 2025 season—running for just 3.8 yards per carry. And after watching Dowdle sign away to Pittsburgh, Carolina will be rolling ahead with Jonathon Brooks—who is returning from a second ACL tear—as their backup.
Next up on the depth chart is 2025 fourth-round pick Trevor Etienne, who saw just 20 carries as a rookie and put in more snaps on special teams than on offense. The backfield also currently includes free-agent signee AJ Dillon—who recorded just 12 carries over the last two seasons.
All that being said, the fact that running back is now legitimately one of the Panthers’ biggest questions shows just how much this roster has improved overall. Even with the renewed emphasis on two-safety sets, running backs are expendable and replaceable—and fixing this issue shouldn’t be much of a challenge for Morgan and his team.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: ESPN identifies Panthers’ biggest roster hole for 2026 NFL season
