The end result for the Carolina Panthers in their preseason finale was pretty similar to their first two exhibition outings, as they finished off the summer with a 19-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. They did, however, get another chance to evaluate their roster—something the film buffs over at Pro Football Focus also zeroed in on ahead of the weekend.
Here are the team’s best and worst PFF grades from their last dress rehearsal of 2025 . . .
Best of the offense
1. QB Bryce Perkins: 79.5
2. TE Dominique Dafney: 73.7
3. RB Emani Bailey: 71.1
4. WR David Moore: 69.4
5. RB Raheem Blackshear: 65.0
Perkins gave a solid account of himself in his one-game audition. The reigning United Football League Most Valuable Player completed 10 of his 11 passing attempts for a team-high 71 yards.
Dafney led all Panthers pass catchers with 21 receiving yards.
Worst of the offense
22. WR Hunter Renfrow: 46.3
23. QB Jack Plummer: 44.4
24. LT Brandon Walton: 44.3
25. LG Chandler Zavala: 41.1
26. RT Michael Tarquin: 41.0
Plummer was not as reliable as Perkins. He connected on just seven of his 14 throws for 48 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Walton and Tarquin allowed six pressures apiece.
Best of the defense
1. S Lathan Ransom: 84.7
2. ILB Krys Barnes: 84.3
3. CB Michael Reid: 79.0
4. OLB Princely Umanmielen: 72.4
5. DL Jared Harrison-Hunte: 71.8
Ransom notched a team-high five tackles and chalked up the only interception of the preseason for Carolina.
Before exiting with a shoulder injury, Umanmielen made his presence felt with a pair of pressures over seven opportunities.
Worst of the defense
23. S Trevian Thomas: 46.8
24. DL Jaden Crumedy: 45.6
25. CB Tre Swilling: 36.6
26. S Isaac Gifford: 32.1
27. ILB Bam Martin-Scott: 30.1
Gifford was saddled with a team-worst 31.0 coverage grade. He allowed two receptions for 53 yards on two targets.
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