5 players who Panthers need to be great in 2020

The Panthers hired Matt Rhule to rebuild the roster in his image. Carolina will need big seasons from these five players to make progress in 2020.

Matt Rhule’s first season in Carolina won’t be judged by wins and losses. Instead, the Panthers must be intensely focused on identifying players who can be a part of the team’s future. That doesn’t mean the new coaching staff doesn’t want to see tangible results on the field.

The offense will look drastically look different under the watchful eye of Joe Brady. The new offensive coordinator will count on Teddy Bridgewater to trigger his attack from the quarterback position. One thing that won’t change this season for the Panthers will be the usage of Christian McCaffrey. He’s still going to get a ton of touches in a variety of ways.

The defense likely won’t bare any resemblace to the unit that Ron Rivera employed in 2019. Stars like Luke Keuchly and James Bradberry are gone. That’s why Carolina spent every draft pick available to them on restocking their defensive talent. It still could be a massive challenge for the Panthers to stop quality offenses this season.

The key for the Panthers in 2020 will be to make quality progress at key positions. Keep a close eye on the following five players as key indicators of the franchise’s future health.

5. Donte Jackson

Bradberry’s departure leaves a massive hole at cornerback. Many experts thought Carolina would solve that issue with a high draft pick, but they didn’t select a corner until the fourth round. That means Jackson enters the season with a huge opportunity to prove he can be a No. 1 corner.

He’s got the athleticism to be a star, but his lack of stature and size may prevent him from ever truly becoming an elite player at the position. The Panthers don’t expect him to blossom into an All-Pro, but they need him to prove he can be an above average starter.