The season starts now!
The Carolina Panthers’ 2025 season is about to get underway, starting off with the Jacksonville Jaguars in Florida. Jacksonville struggled last season, going 4-13. They had the second worst defense in the league – only Carolina had worse.
They traded up from the fifth pick in the 2025 draft to secure the unicorn two-way star from Colorado, Travis Hunter, second overall. Many believed he would mainly play on defense.
However, the Jaguars’ latest depth chart has him listed as a backup cornerback behind Tyson Campbell and Jourdan Lewis. He is also listed as a first-choice wide receiver with Brian Thomas Jr.
Only time will tell how exactly he will be used and on which side of the ball he will prove most effective.
New head coach
The Jaguars have a new head coach after letting Doug Pederson go following last season’s poor effort. Liam Coen has been hired after his one-year stint as Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator, exactly like Dave Canales last year.
Like Canales, Coen will need time to get things on the right track. And like Canales last year, Coen has a young quarterback who needs the help of an offensive-minded head coach to coax the best out of him.
It took Canales about half his debut season to get Carolina in good shape after the five-week benching of Bryce Young. Canales was adamant to run the football. At times, it was not successful but having Chuba Hubbard put up career numbers, it got there.
Coen must get former Clemson teammates, quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne, back to their full high potential after a disastrous 2024 under Pederson.
Personally, I am a fan of Trevor Lawrence. I like Etienne and Thomas Jr too. The defense appears in better shape with veteran additions of Lewis and safety Eric Murray. This adds to already talented front pieces like Travon Walker, Devin Lloyd and Arik Armstead, led by premium pass rusher Joshua Hines-Allen.
The addition of a phenomenal athlete in Hunter on both sides of the ball will massively help both units. I believe the Jaguars under Coen will become a success, eventually.
Looking for a better start
Week 1 is the best time for Carolina to catch Jacksonville. Carolina lost by a combined scoreline of 73-13 in the first two weeks of 2024. I do not expect Jacksonville to be that bad. There may be growing pains in the early days of the Coen era.
Carolina finished last season strongly. They are coming into 2025 happy with their progression over the last 12 to 18 months. Canales has got Young playing with confidence. That confidence is being injected into the rest of the team with players like Hubbard and Jaycee Horn stepping up last year.
Derrick Brown is also returning after missing last season through injury. There is also Tetairoa McMillan being added to the offense through the draft.
The team feels good. A win against a team in a similar position to where they were this time last year is expected.
