May 25, 2026, 4:30 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
Keeping your spot in the NFL is not just a September-through-January kind of proposition. With new, hungry young players coming in every year, veterans have to stay on their game\u2014or they’ll inevitably lose their standing on the roster.<\/p>\n
For the Carolina Panthers<\/a>, there are several players who are entering a key, potentially even make-or-break kind of offseason\u2014and they need to separate themselves from the incoming competition.<\/p>\n Here are six vets who we will be keeping an eye on between the start of organized team activities<\/a> and roster cut-down day in late August . . .<\/p>\n RB Chuba Hubbard<\/p>\n Hubbard has to bounce back from a down 2025 campaign, where he took a backseat to Rico Dowdle and rushed for just 3.8 yards per carry. While he’s still the favorite to lead the backfield, a returning<\/a> Jonathon Brooks and a second-year Trevor Etienne may cut into his workload.<\/p>\n Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a>WR Xavier Legette<\/p>\n Legette is living proof that elite athleticism isn’t nearly enough to make it in the NFL. From drops to sideline errors to simple mechanics and effort level\u2014the former first-round pick is far behind where he should be going into Year 3.<\/p>\n If Legette doesn’t clean his game up, he could fall behind 2026 third-rounder<\/a> Chris Brazzell II in the rotation.<\/p>\n OT Rasheed Walker<\/p>\n When the Panthers signed<\/a> Walker, he probably thought the starting left tackle job was his to lose with Ikem Ekwonu sidelined due to a torn patellar tendon. But the Panthers have since used a first-round pick<\/a> on Georgia’s freaky big and freaky athletic tackle Monroe Freeling.<\/p>\n Now, Walker will be pressed to win the spot on the blindside the old-fashioned way.<\/p>\n DT Bobby Brown<\/p>\n Brown, who joined Carolina<\/a> on a three-year, $21 million deal last spring, didn’t live up to expectations. Despite playing all 17 games, Brown managed just half a sack, one quarterback hit and three tackles for a loss.<\/p>\n He has to produce more than that, or second-round pick<\/a> Lee Hunter is going to eat his lunch.<\/p>\n OLB Patrick Jones II<\/p>\n Jones didn’t get to see much action in 2025, suffering a season-ending back injury<\/a> in mid-October that required surgery. That’s not Jones’ fault, but he also didn’t produce much before the injury\u2014posting just 1.0 sack in four games.<\/p>\n With big-time free-agent signee<\/a> Jaelan Phillips coming on and sophomore pass rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen on the rise, Jones doesn’t have to slip far to lose his spot in the edge rotation entirely.<\/p>\n ILB Trevin Wallace<\/p>\n The Panthers radically upgraded one of their off-ball linebacker spots by signing<\/a> Pro Bowler Devin Lloyd. Wallace,, however, is still a weak link\u2014and hasn’t impressed in two seasons.<\/p>\n Signing a proven veteran to pair with Lloyd has to be tempting for the Panthers, especially if Wallace hasn’t improved since last offseason.<\/p>\n