Carolina Panthers 2020 Preview - NFL Odds, Picks, & Betting Predictions

The Carolina Panthers finished last in the NFC South in 2019 with a record of 5-11 after losing 8 straight to end the season. Not much is expected from the Carolina Panthers in 2020.  One of the biggest reasons the Panthers are not expected to fare well this season is their defense, which last season was the worst in the NFL in stopping the run and next-to-last in the NFL in points allowed. Carolina fired head coach Ron Rivera following the 2019 season and hired Matt Rhule as his replacement. Rhule was the head coach for the Big 12 Baylor Bears last season. 

Teddy Bridgewater will be the new starting quarterback for the Panthers as Carolina has moved on from the Cam Newton era. The biggest weapon Bridgewater has at his disposal is running back Christian McCaffrey who last season rushed for 1,387 yards with 15 touchdowns but more impressively caught 116 passes for 1,005 yards and four touchdowns. The top wide receiver for the Panthers will be DJ Moore who last season in 15 games caught 87 passes for 1175 yards and four touchdowns. The rest of the receiving corps will include Robby Anderson, Pharoh Cooper, Curtis Samuel and tight ends Chris Manhertz and Ian Thomas.

The big weak link for the Panthers offense is the line. Nearly the entire offensive line will be new in 2020. Russell Okung, who was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers, will be the most experienced member of the line. Michael Schofield, who played alongside Okung, has also joined the Panthers. Other starters are expected to be John Miller and Taylor Moton, but if the line cannot open holes for the elusive McCaffrey or protect Bridgewater in the pocket, Carolina is in for a very long season.

The Carolina defense was abysmal in 2019 and in 2020 could be even worse following the retirement of star linebacker Luke Kuechly, the loss of James Bradberry to free agency and the loss of several defensive lineman via trade, free agency or being released. Carolina used each of its seven draft choices in the recent NFL draft on defensive players, including the new heart of the Carolina defensive linemen Derek Brown and Yetur Gross-Matos, while Troy Pride will likely start at cornerback and nickel back Jeremy Chinn start opposite Pride at the other corner.

Besides the four rookies that are expected to start or see plenty of action on the defense, the Panthers will have Brian Burns as their starting right defensive end and Kawann Short as a starting defensive tackle alongside Brown and Gross-Matos. The linebacker corps will consist of Tahir Whitehead, Shaq Thompson and Jermaine Carter Jr, while Andre Smith and Stephen Weatherly will see plenty of action in special packages.  With pride expected to start at one cornerback and Chinn at the other the starting safeties for the Panthers will be Tre Boston and Juston Burris, with Donte Jackson, Cole Luke, Corn Elder and Kenny Robinson all seeing playing time in the secondary.

With so many new faces on both sides of the ball that include a new starting quarterback, revamped offensive line, and four rookies possibly starting on defense, Carolina will have a difficult time within the highly competitive NFC South let alone the rest of the league. Do not expect Carolina to finish any better than last in the NFC South and have an overall record of 5-12.