The Panthers were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday, losing to the Rams 34–31 following an epic, back-and-forth fourth quarter in Charlotte.
Like a majority of teams at this juncture, Carolina will now turn its attention to the 2026 season—and in doing so, must evaluate their roster and determine which players will (and won’t) be part of the team moving forward.
We’re going to take a look at the Panthers’ key free agents, potential contract casualties, and both trade and retirement candidates heading into next year. But before we get into it, here’s a brief explainer on the different types of NFL free agents:
With that, here’s a look at who may not return to the Panthers in 2026.
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Rico Dowdle is set to be a free agent this offseason. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Carolina’s top free agent heading into this offseason is running back Rico Dowdle. The 28-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Panthers this past March and went on to become the team’s leading rusher with 1,076 yards on 236 carries.
The team will also have to make decisions on plenty of other key contributors from 2025 heading into next season. Here’s a full list:
Unrestricted free agents:Restricted free agents:Exclusive rights free agents:
Andy Dalton has served as Carolina’s backup for several seasons. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
On top of their pending free agents, the Panthers could also look to release players carrying large cap hits heading into 2026. Here’s a look at potential cut candidates based on what they’re set to be owed next season (via OverTheCap):
J.J. Jansen has been with the Panthers since 2009. / Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
With every NFL offseason comes the end of several careers, as players decide to hang up their cleats rather than lace them up for one more go. For Carolina, the most obvious retirement candidate is long snapper J.J. Jansen, who has been with the franchise since the 2009 season.
Here’s a list that includes some other Panthers players who could potentially decide to call it a career.
Chuba Hubbard signed a contract extension with the Panthers towards the end of the 2024 season. / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
While the Panthers don’t have any obvious trade candidates on their roster, one player who could potentially be floated in talks this offseason is running back Chuba Hubbard.
Hubbard signed a four-year, $33.2 million extension—including $15 million guaranteed—in November 2024, but was ultimately surpassed on the depth chart by Dowdle after suffering a calf injury in Week 4. Should the Panthers decide to re-sign Dowdle this offseason, they could look to recoup some assets by exploring Hubbard’s trade market this spring.
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