Carolina Panthers
Grade: A+
What went right: When you start a season with 14 wins, it is a campaign that doesn’t have much to whine about. Quarterback Cam Newton still have accuracy issues, but he can make some space on his mantle for the NFL Most Valuable Player award. Meanwhile, tight end Greg Olsen is playing great football and Josh Norman has made himself known as the best corner in the game today.
What went wrong: The injury to Kelvin Benjamin. If Benjamin was on the team and had not torn his ACL in training camp, the Panthers would have an unstoppable offense. Instead, the blueprint to beating the Panthers remains containing Newton in the pocket and taking away his top target in Olsen. Carolina has overcome the injury nicely, though, led by Ted Ginn Jr.
Offseason expectations: The main priority will be keeping Norman. The 26-year-old is going to hit the market with a huge reputation after putting together a great season. Norman might be the most expensive player on the market, making Carolina pull out the checkbook. The Panthers don’t need to upgrade much anywhere else, save maybe for the tackle spots on the offensive line.
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