38-year old John Kasay had been a very solid kicker for the Panthers in his NFL career.  He played in all 16 games for the Panthers last season and he made 24 of 28 field goals (85.7%).  He also connected on all 27 of his extra points last season.  Look for Kasay to be solid again in 2008 as he has shown no signs of slowing down.  Kasay has now played in 237 games in his NFL career and he has made 358 of 442 field goals (81%).  He has also made 430 of 440 extra points (97.7%) in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B

The Panthers might be willing to throw to the TEs a little bit more in 2008.  25-year old Jeff King had a solid year in 2007 for the Panthers.  He played in all 16 games last season and he caught 46 passes for 406 yards (8.8 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  King is also a solid blocker in the running game who is capable of being a solid all around TE like he was last season.  King has now played in 28 games in his NFL career and he has caught 47 passes for 407 yards (8.7 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

23-year old Dante’ Rosario did most of his work in short yardage situations as a blocker.  He played in all 16 games for the Panthers last season and he caught 6 passes for 108 yards (18.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Look for him to get more playing time in 2008 and for him to be more involved in the passing game.

22-year old rookie Gary Barnidge could move up the depth chart soon.  He is a good receiver but he’s not the fastest guy around.  He played in 12 games (10 starts) at Louisville last season and he caught 53 passes for 655 yards (12.4 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  Barnidge is a tall target at 6′6″, 234 pounds so he should be able to catch a lot of short passes over the middle.  He played in 48 games (31 starts) at Louisville and he caught 108 passes for 1,491 yards (13.8 avg) with 17 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C

The Carolina Panthers are expecting to have some help for Steve Smith after his suspension this season as they have brought in Mushin Muhammad and D.J. Hackett for air support.  29-year old Steve Smith is the main playmaker of the Panthers.  He played in 15 games last season for the Panthers and he caught 87 passes for 1,002 yards (11.5 avg) with 7 TD grabs and that was with some really awful QB play after Jake Delhomme went down.  Smith also carried the football 9 times for 66 yards (7.3 ypc) last season.  Look for Smith to have a solid season after his suspension as long as both he and Jake Delhomme stay healthy.  Smith has now played in 92 games in his NFL career and he has caught 431 passes for 5,927 yards (13.8 avg) with 37 TD grabs.  He has also carried the football 37 times for 233 yards (6.3 ypc) with 2 TD runs in his career.

35-year old Mushin Muhammad should be more than able to handle the heavy lifting on the tough passes over the middle of the field.  He played in all 16 games for the Bears last season and he caught 40 passes for 570 yards (14.3 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Look for his numbers to improve a lot playing with a real QB this year in Carolina.  Muhammad has now played in 172 games in his NFL career and he has caught 742 passes for 9,934 yards (13.4 avg) with 56 TD grabs.  He has also carried the football 11 times for 64 yards (5.8 ypc) this season.

27-year old D.J. Hackett has a ton of talent but he has issues with staying healthy.  That’s because he’s fearless over the middle of the football field.  He also has good hands and enough speed to get down the field.  Hackett only played in 6 games with the Seahawks last season but he caught 32 passes for 384 yards (12.0 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Look for his numbers to double if he can stay healthy this season for the Panthers.  Hackett has now played in 33 games in his NFL career and he has caught 105 passes for 1,394 yards (13.3 avg) with 9 TD grabs. 

23-year old Ryne Robinson appears to have a leg up on Dwayne Jarrett for the #4 job at WR on the Panthers.  He is very small at 5′9″, 179 pounds but he is very fast. Robinson played in all 16 games for the Panthers last season and he only caught 4 passes for 35 yards (8.8 avg).

21-year old Dwayne Jarrett is a huge receiver at 6′4″, 219 pounds but he disappointed the Panthers big time as a rookie in 2007.  He played in 7 games and he only caught 6 passes for 73 yards (12.2 avg) last season.  He also carried the ball 1 time for 11 yards.  Jarrett appears to be walking in the footsteps of another former standout WR at USC…….Mike Williams…..and that is not a good thing.

30-year old veteran Travis Taylor might have a shot to stick with the Panthers in a backup role.  He only played in 1 game for the Rams last season and he caught 1 pass for 4 yards.  Taylor has had a solid career as a #3 WR in the NFL and he could regain his stature this season in Carolina.  He has now played in 100 games in his NFL career and he has caught 312 passes for 4,017 yards (12.9 avg) with 22 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 32 times for 232 yards (7.3 ypc) this season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B+

The Panthers go three deep with quality fullbacks for 2008 so they are set.  Brad Hoover is 6′0″, 245 pounds and he’s a solid all around fullback as he is a decent blocker, runner and receiver.  Hoover has played in 16 games (12 starts) last season for the Panthers and he carried the ball 12 times for 39 yards (3.3 ypc).  He also caught 10 passes for 58 yards (5.8 avg) last year.  Hoover should have another good season to help him add to his solid career numbers.  Hoover has now played in 125 games (78 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 255 times for 891 yards (3.5 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He has also caught 135 passes for 984 yards (7.3 avg) with 5 TD grabs in his career.

Nick Goings is essentially a tailback playing fullback.  He is 6′0″, 225 pounds which means he might not be the best lead blocker around but he’s a solid runner and receiver.  Goings played in only 4 games (0 starts) last season and he didn’t touch the football.  Goings has now played in 89 games (13 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 391 times for 1,460 yards (3.7 ypc) with 6 TD runs.  He has also caught 107 passes for 879 yards (8.2 avg) with 3 TD grabs in his career.

Troy Fleming also brings a nice skill set to the Panthers.  He is 6′0″, 245 pounds and he’s a solid blocker and receiver.  Fleming played in 13 games (2 starts) last season for the Titans and he caught 10 passes for 69 yards (6.9 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for Fleming to get on the field any way that he can as he is a good special teams player also.  Fleming has now played in 29 games (2 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 7 times for 40 yards (5.7 ypc).  He has also caught 29 passes for 233 yards (8.0 avg) with 3 TD grabs in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B+

The Panthers have decided to go to a power running game and with that they let DeShaun Foster go and drafted Jonathan Stewart who will likely be the feature back in 2008.  Stewart had a severely injured toe late last season and it caused him to drop a little bit in the first round which made the Panthers’ front office smile.  Stewart is a strong running back at 5′10″, 230 pounds and he’s very fast running a 4.45 40.  Stewart was incredible last season for Oregon.  He played in 13 games (12 starts) with Oregon last year and he carried the ball 280 times for 1,722 yards (6.2 ypc) with 11 TD runs.  He also caught 22 passes for 145 yards (6.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Look for him to have a really solid rookie season.

DeAngelo Williams will likely get a chance to beat out Stewart as the feature back on the Panthers.  Even if he loses out on that job the Panthers will use him a lot in 2008.  Williams played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Panthers last season and he carried the ball 144 times for 717 yards (5.0 ypc) with 4 TD runs.  He also caught 23 passes for 175 yards (7.6 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Williams should add to his solid career numbers in 2008.  Williams has now played in 29 games (2 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 265 times for 1,218 yards (4.6 ypc) with 5 TD runs.  He has also caught 56 passes for 488 yards (8.7 avg) with 2 TD grabs.

LaBrandon Toefield will be the #3 RB for the Panthers this season.  He played in 2 games (1 start) for the Jaguars last season and he carried the ball 13 times for 27 yards (2.1 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 1 pass for 4 yards.  Toefield has the talent to step up if something happens to Stewart or Williams as he was buried on the depth chart in Jacksonville.  Toefield has now played in 45 games (3 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 163 times for 572 yards (3.5 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  He has also caught 46 passes for 277 yards (6.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs.

Alex Haynes didn’t get to play much as a rookie for the Panthers last season.  He played in 10 games (0 starts) for the Panthers last season and he carried the ball 3 times for 3 yards (1.0 ypc).  Haynes also caught 3 passes for 14 yards (4.7 avg) last year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B