Panthers' list of 2026 NFL free agents as Carolina heads into offseason

The Carolina Panthers are out of the NFL playoffs, as the team fell to the Los Angeles Rams in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday.

Carolina should hold its head high despite the loss on Saturday. Dave Canales' squad had one of the best teams in the NFC on the ropes and nearly pulled off a stunning upset. Quarterback Bryce Young came up clutch in big moments, while the defense also showed promise and made life difficult for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The Panthers will now look ahead to the offseason, with their initial focus being on free agency.

General manager Dan Morgan will have to make contract decisions on 26 pending Panthers free agents this offseason.

Here is the full list of the Panthers' 2026 free agents:

• DE DJ Wonnum
• LG Cade Mays
• RG Austin Corbett
• LG Brady Christensen
• RB Rico Dowdle
• LB Christian Rozeboom
• LT Yosuah Nijman
• P Sam Martin
• WR David Moore
• LS JJ Jansen
• S Nick Scott
• LB Isaiah Simmons
• RT Jake Curhan
• LB Krys Barnes
• CB Robert Rochell
• DE Trevis Gipson
• CB Akayleb Evans
• S D’Anthony Bell
• CB Damarri Mathis
• TE James Mitchell
• IDL LaBryan Ray
• DE Thomas Incoom
• LB Claudin Cherelus
• S Demani Richardson
• WR Jalen Coker
• WR Brycen Tremayne

Carolina doesn't have many key free agents. Dowdle, Coker, Wonnum, Mays, and Rozeboom are the top Panthers players set to hit the market, but Carolina would be wise to bring some of those guys back.

According to Over the Cap, the Panthers are slated to have $28.1 million in cap space. A pivotal offseason is ahead for the franchise, but 2025 was a step in the right direction.