The Carolina Panthers already have themselves a believer in FOX Sports NFL reporter Henry McKenna.

McKenna, fresh off this past week’s 2025 schedule release, made his early predictions for the upcoming campaign. And when it comes to his forecast for the playoffs, he’s got the Panthers as the NFC South champions and the No. 4 seed in the conference:

Yes, I have the Panthers in the fourth spot after taking home the NFC South title. Few were paying attention at the end of last year, but Bryce Young put together an eight-game run that completely changed my perspective on him — and coach Dave Canales. There could be something special brewing in Carolina. It won’t take much to win the NFC South. It might simply take an aligned coach and a QB. But on top of that, the Panthers will also have a slew of offseason additions, from WR Tetairoa McMillan to DT Tershawn Wharton to safety Tre’von Moehrig. Carolina is tied for the fifth-easiest strength of schedule, according to last year’s records. Things are lining up.

After allowing the most points ever in a single season, the Panthers attacked free agency by adding both Wharton and Moehrig on three-year deals. They also signed running back Rico Dowdle, defensive lineman Bobby Brown III and outside linebacker Pat Jones II, who recorded a career-high 7.0 sacks in 2024.

Carolina then turned a few more heads in the first round of the 2025 draft, when they selected McMillan with the eighth overall pick. The 6-foot-4, 219-pound All-American pass catcher, who amassed a whopping 3,423 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns over his three seasons at the University of Arizona, could be the true No. 1 wideout that elevates quarterback Bryce Young and the rest of the offense.

If the Panthers win the NFC South, it’d mark their first division title since 2015. That outcome would also snap a franchise-record playoff drought (seven seasons).

But they don’t make too high of a jump, at least in these predictions. McKenna has the Panthers’ encouraging year coming to an end in the wild-card round, with a 31-17 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

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