Panthers Wire mailbag: What fans want to know ahead of Week 12

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Panthers Wire mailbag: What fans want to know ahead of Week 12

Jared Feinberg · Panthers Wire

Wed, Nov 20, 2024 ·

5 min read

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The Carolina Panthers are returning from their bye week with a huge matchup ahead of them, as they're set to host the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. And, fittingly enough, Panthers fans brought their A-game to the mailbag this week.

So let's dive right in and answer some of your questions . . .

Note: Questions have been edited for clarity .

Jaden Crumedy 's late-season impact

Jun 4, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy (96) runs an agility drill during OTAs. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

What, if any, impact could we see from Jaden Crumedy? Not expecting much, but anything would be a plus. – @cerealkira

While the unit may have experienced the start of a turnaround in the past few outings, Carolina's defensive line still needs help. So, could that help come from Crumedy?

The 2024 sixth-round pick has yet to play in the regular season due mostly to an ankle injury. He was activated to the 53-man roster ahead of the Week 10 win over the New York Giants and should be worth a look down the stretch.

I was impressed with Crumedy's athletic ability and power as a three-tech in his time at Mississippi State University. There is obvious intrigue with those tools, and it could benefit the Panthers to give their rookie defensive tackle some decent snaps.

Just don't expect much from Crumedy this season. You could see him in the rotation, but defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero seems pretty content with the current mix of A'Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Harris , LaBryan Ray and Shy Tuttle .

Predicting the final seven games of the season

Nov 10, 2024; Munich, Germany; Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales reacts in the second half against the New York Giants during the 2024 NFL Munich Game at Allianz Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

What record do you think the Panthers will finish with and what draft pick could we have? – Mark M.

Starting with Kansas City—I see this being a loss, and a bad one at that. The talent disparity is enormous, and the Chiefs have the upper hand on both sides of the trenches.

After that, I see the Panthers splitting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while also topping the lowly Dallas Cowboys . They could also knock off the Arizona Cardinals in their home finale, but don't see their matchups against the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons ending well.

Those outcomes could put the Panthers at 6-11, tripling their win total from a year ago.

As for their draft spot, I won't give a specific selection. But that record should put Carolina within the first 12 picks of the order.

Finding a direction for the draft

Pending Bryce Young , the offense is in pretty good shape, in my opinion. Do you anticipate a defense-heavy draft? A healthy Horn and DB plus a good draft class could remake the D pretty quickly. – @Panther90

I do anticipate the Panthers leaning toward constructing their defense early and often in the draft. This answer, however, could change after free agency. It's still mid-November, and a lot still needs to play out from a draft positioning and free-agent signing standpoint.

I could see a scenario where the Panthers go offense in the first round. The team needs a playmaker at wide receiver outside of what they have in Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker .

Missouri's Luther Burden III and Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan make a lot of sense in that regard. If the team is somehow selecting in the middle of the first round, Michigan's Colston Loveland and Penn State's Tyler Warren at tight end could be intriguing possibilities as well.

It's also critical to point out that the Panthers probably won't be able to fix their defense in just one offseason. But finding depth and playmakers on both sides of the ball is crucial to consistency and success.

What to expect from Jonathon Brooks

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 04: Jonathon Brooks #24 of the Carolina Panthers attends Carolina Panthers OTA Offseason Workout on June 04, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

How much do you think the Panthers lean on Jonathon Brooks versus just riding with Chuba Hubbard? – Cameron

Brooks was activated from the physically unable to perform list two weeks ago and is expected to make his debut this week against the Chiefs.

There's plenty of intrigue on how head coach Dave Canales will utilize his second-round draft choice. His skill set is similar to what Hubbard offers now, but he is a better pass catcher and pass protector—things that could be integrated into the game plan.

I don't expect the Panthers to lean on Brooks, but I also don't expect them to continue giving Hubbard 20-plus carries per game. With Miles Sanders week-to-week with an ankle injury , Brooks will likely take over the role as the change-of-pace, third-down back.

The best-case scenario on Sunday is Brooks gets at least 12 touches for over 60 total yards. That would give the team a sign that Hubbard doesn't have to bear the bulk of the load all the time.

Long-term, we may be looking at the next iteration of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart .

Bryce Young's future prospects

Nov 10, 2024; Munich, Germany; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) throws the ball against the New York Giants in the first half during the 2024 NFL Munich Game at Allianz Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

If Bryce Young starts for the rest of the year, wins only one more game, but progresses in pocket awareness and game-managing, do you think that's enough to earn another year as the starter? Or if we have a top 3 pick, do we take a quarterback? – @CPanther591

I'm sure Canales will continue to make the quarterback situation a week-by-week ordeal like he has for a decent amount of the season, but I digress. Even if they win just one more game, Young showing growth in pocket awareness, confidence and overall game management would give me confidence about his prospects to start in Carolina for 2025.

It's a trickier question if Carolina has a top-3 selection. I don't see a draft prospect who is worthy of a pick that high—possibly putting general manager Dan Morgan and Canales in a spot where they may still sign a bridge quarterback or competitive backup to make sure Young isn't fully guaranteed the starting job.

What I will say is that if Young continues to progress, that is likely to lead to more victories. He's made some key throws in the past two games that have helped put the Panthers in positions to win, even if the box score doesn't show it.

A better Young will likely equal good things for the franchise in the final stretch.

Is D.J. Wonnum the Brian Burns replacement?

MUNICH, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 10: Shy Tuttle of Carolina Panthers celebrates with teammate D.J. Wonnum during the NFL Munich Game 2024 between New York Giants and Carolina Panthers at Allianz Arena on November 10, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Is D.J. Woonum our Brian Burns replacement, and just how good can he be for the Panthers next season? – Robbie

I wrote about Wonnum at length earlier this week. He had an admirable performance after everything he went through over the last year with multiple surgeries, an infection and blood clots. The success he had against the Giants is a feel-good story.

However, I noted that it is fair to question the season-long viability in terms of consistent production and week-to-week impact. I'd like to see that first before anointing him as one of the better players on the roster.

Burns is a special talent, and he showed it in that very game against the Panthers. He's a terrific pass rusher, often bound for double-digit sacks. Wonnum won't replicate that and neither has the other "replacement" Jadeveon Clowney .

It is fair, though, to expect Wonnum to be an impact player the rest of the way. Expectations should be tempered, but the former Vikings pass rusher should be a key part of the defense next season if he maintains consistent play in the coming weeks.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers Wire mailbag: What fans want to know ahead of Week 12