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He carolina panthers They were looking for an offensive-minded coach to help turn the quarterback young brycethe race around and believe they found the solution in Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive coordinator Dave Canales.
The team plans to hire Canales, 42, as its seventh coach. league sources told ESPN Thursday.
The details of the contract have not yet been finalized, according to a league source familiar with the negotiations who assured that the deal would be closed.
The Panthers set their sights on Canales less than 24 hours after Wednesday’s in-person interview with owner David Tepper, general manager Dan Morgan and other members of the search committee. They also had second interviews with Carolina’s defensive coordinator. Ejiro Evero and Los Angeles Rams Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
Evero, who has interviewed for several head coaching positions, is a candidate to remain with the Panthers as defensive coordinator, according to a league source familiar with the situation.
Recently fired Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel was scheduled to interview in Charlotte on Thursday when news leaked that Canales was the pick.
Taking a closer look, Panthers reporter David Newton answers three key questions about what Canales’ signing means for the franchise. National reporter Dan Graziano breaks down what he’s hearing about the hire, and draft analyst Jordan Reid examines his options without a first-round pick in 2024. Finally, front office analyst Mike Tannenbaum rates the hire.
Why did the Panthers choose Canales?
Newton: He worked with Morgan, the recently hired general manager, for eight years (2010-2017) in Seattle when Morgan was the director of pro personnel and Canales was the wide receivers coach. So there was familiarity. But Canales’ history with developing quarterbacks was arguably the biggest reason. He helped Russell Wilson (2020) and Gene Smith (2022) to the best seasons of his career in Seattle when he was passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He helped baker mayfieldwho failed with the Panthers in 2022, one year into his career last season as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator.
Canales will also be open to retaining Evero, who was a candidate for the position and interviewed with two other teams. Evero’s unit was top five in total defense last season and he is under contract. A team source said the ideal would be to keep Evero and as much of the defense as possible intact. Canales is also likely open to retaining special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, who was interim coach after Frank Reich was fired 11 games into last season.
How does this affect Bryce Young?
Newton: Just look at what Canales did for Wilson, Smith and Mayfield. Each passed more than 4,000 yards to set personal bests. Each had career highs in touchdown passes, 40 for Wilson, 30 for Smith and 28 for Mayfield. Each had a completion percentage of 64.3% or higher, surpassed by Smith at 69%. He has a knack for planning an offense that takes advantage of the quarterback’s strengths and the strength of those around him. That’s what Young needs after a season in which his 11 touchdowns tied the fewest in NFL history for a quarterback with at least 500 attempts. That’s what Young needs after completing just 59.8% of his passes.
What are the biggest roster questions facing the Panthers this offseason?
Newton: Rebuilding an offensive line that allowed Young to be sacked a team-record 62 times has to be at the top of the list. Among the decisions will be whether the left tackle Ikem Ekwonu will remain or move to stand guard. After that, block the outside linebacker Brian Burns to a long-term deal and possibly finalize one with defensive tackle Derrick Brown. Both are the foundation of a solid defense.
But most of the effort will be on the offensive end, where Canales will need to add a No. 1 receiver with speed and possibly a top-notch tight end to take the pressure off Young. The Panthers do not have a number one pick, having traded it to the chicago bears for the first pick to select Young last season. But they have the first pick of the second round and are expected to have around $40 million in cap space. Attracting top talent to an organization that has had six consecutive losing seasons will be the most difficult task.
What are you hearing around the league about recruiting?
Gratian: Most people I’ve talked to about this job over the past few months believed Tepper was determined to hire a coach with offensive experience to try to maximize Young’s performance. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was thought to be a top target, but there are other teams that have expressed interest in him, and therein lies the problem. People around the league wondered if Carolina would be able to attract candidates who were in high demand due to concerns about Tepper’s instability and impatience. Remember, he hired Reich as head coach this time last year and fired him in Week 11.
Canales’ history with Morgan shows that they know how to work together, which is encouraging. I think there was going to be skepticism about this hire no matter who it was, not because of the coach but because of Tepper. A couple of people I spoke to found it interesting that the Panthers hired a coach based in part on how much he got from Mayfield in 2023, when the Panthers couldn’t get anything from Mayfield in 2022.
Who do Canales and the Panthers expect to come out of Round 1 and be ranked 33rd in April?
Laughed: The Panthers’ offseason focus now should be renewing the supporting cast around Young. Receiver Adam Thielen He was the only consistent pass catcher in 2023, and the Panthers averaged a league-low 9.3 yards per catch. They really need to add multiple playmakers this offseason, especially receivers who can generate yards after the catch.
Although Carolina does not have a first-round pick in April, Texas Xavier Worthy and South Carolina Xavier Legette There are two intriguing guys who could be there at No. 33. And Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley and Texas A&M Ainías Smith There could also be possibilities if Carolina opts to wait until the third or fourth round to address the wide receiver issue.
How would you rate this hire?
Tannenbaum: C+. Canales is a bright young offensive mind, but he only has one season of playing experience. This hire was clearly made to maximize Young’s development, and while I think Canales will help with that, his lack of experience is a concern.
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