Mike McCarn/Associated Press
It’s tough to fill Ron Rivera’s shoes, but it’s easier when inheriting a roster brimming with talent.
If a new head coach wants to roll with Cam Newton, that solves a number of problems. Newton, by the way, is still only 30 years old. Star running back Christian McCaffrey just joined the 1,000-1,000 club, and D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel round out what could be an explosive offense with better play-calling.
Defense is more of a problem in Carolina after the team allowed 29.4 points per game (second-worst), but it’s tough to complain about building around edge-rusher Brian Burns and a 53-sack unit (second-best). If that’s the focal point of a new coach, the Panthers project to have more than $30 million in free space and another top-10 pick to use.
Eventually, and perhaps sooner than later, the quarterback question might loom large. But promising pieces and good job security (two main coaches dating back to 2002) make Carolina perhaps the most underrated opening of this cycle.