Panthers depth chart takes shape after Morgan's 53 cuts
Carolina's panthers depth chart is taking a clearer shape after GM Dan Morgan's 53-man cuts, with two released players claimed by other teams for the first time since 2022. Starting tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton are on reserve lists for at least four games, while undrafted quarterback Haynes King made the roster to develop.
Morgan told reporters Tuesday the club is "getting better as a team" and that 53-man cuts keep getting harder because depth and competition have improved, according to the Carolina Panthers. Across the league, the Tennessee Titans also shuffled their practice squad a day later. More roster notes live in our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.
Key Takeaways
- The Jets claimed linebacker Trevin Wallace and the Vikings claimed center Nick Samac, Carolina's first such claims after 53-man cuts since 2022.
- Ekwonu and Moton will miss at least four games; backup tackle Stone Forsythe is the only reserve lineman with an NFL start.
- Carolina kept five tight ends, added Tyrel Dodson to the practice squad, and retained undrafted rookies Haynes King, Aaron Hall, and Albert Reese.
- Tennessee added Xavier Restrepo, Jerrick Reed II, Erick Hallett II, and Mohamoud Diabate, and waived Hank Beatty, Derrick Canteen, and Mani Powell.
Why does the Panthers depth chart look more competitive now?
Morgan said Wallace and Samac fitting other systems was a testament to players who "can play." Carolina had not had a player claimed off waivers after cuts to 53 since 2022, when the Seahawks claimed defensive end Darryl Johnson. None of the players the Panthers released in 2024 or 2025 were claimed.
Cutting Wallace was hard. After signing Bobby Okereke and favoring special-teams traits, Carolina kept Claudin Cherelus, rookie Jackson Kuwatch, and Devin Lloyd on the 53, then added Tyrel Dodson to the practice squad. Dodson has 43 career starts; Morgan was Buffalo's assistant GM when he signed as an undrafted rookie.
Morgan called the 30-year-old Okereke a high-IQ veteran who fits next to Lloyd. He sent a 2028 sixth-round pick for former Chargers defensive tackle TeRah Edwards, adding depth behind Derrick Brown, Bobby Brown III, and second-round pick Lee Hunter.
Carolina kept five tight ends for distinct skill sets. Morgan said Darren Waller, the only one with a 1,000-yard receiving season, had six touchdowns in nine games last year with the Dolphins and is ramping back to football activity.
How thin is Carolina's offensive line after the cuts?
Ekwonu and Moton landed on reserve lists Sunday. Carolina waived Chandler Zavala, then signed him back to the practice squad, and placed Brady Christensen on injured reserve. Stone Forsythe, with 27 starts in 70 career appearances, is the only backup lineman who has started a game.
Rookies Sam Hecht and Albert Reese have no starts. Waiver pickup Corey Bullock did not start last season and played 13 offensive snaps in 16 games for Baltimore. Morgan still said he felt good about the line, citing Bullock's center-guard flexibility.
He admitted a joint practice against Houston "was rough," but called it useful preparation for Monroe Freeling and Rasheed Walker, who he said keep improving as they gel in the scheme.
Which rookies stuck, and how did the Titans shuffle?
Head coach Dave Canales talked at length Tuesday about keeping King to develop. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the former Georgia Tech quarterback called his father, John King, on Sunday night after making the 53 as an undrafted free agent. John King described a "very short response" and said Haynes was "a little nervous."
An AJC caption shows King scoring the Hall of Fame Game winner past Cardinals safety Isaiah Oliver in Canton. Carolina also kept Hall and 6-foot-7, 330-pound Reese, a projected right tackle Morgan said earned his spot.
On Wednesday, the Titans added wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, safety Jerrick Reed II, cornerback Erick Hallett II, and linebacker Mohamoud Diabate to the practice squad, the team said. They waived receiver Hank Beatty, defensive back Derrick Canteen, and linebacker Mani Powell. Morgan said Carolina will keep looking to churn the roster all season.