With their draft selections last month, the Panthers were able to strengthen a few roster weaknesses, but they were unable to make significant progress on the offensive and defensive fronts. A small seven-man draft class and several departures allowed Carolina to sign a large 19-man undrafted free agent group. The list of new UDFAs is as follows:
Ulumoo Ale, Washington, DT
Aumavae Popo, DE (Oregon)
The WR Jalen Coker (Holy Cross),
Tennessee’s Jeremiah Crawford, OT
Willie Drew, CB (Southern Illinois)
Christian Duffie, Oklahoma Teacher
OLB Kenny Dyson (Bryant)
Kevin Foelsch, a New Haven-based TE
Mississippi DeShawn Gaddie, CB
(Coastal Carolina) Clayton Isbell, S.; Darius Hodges, DE (Tulane)
Colorado’s Derrick McLendon, OLB
Mevis, K. Harrison (Missouri) (narrative)
Mitchell, Jackson, and LB (UConn)
NFL player Sam Pinckney (Coastal Carolina)
Jacksonville QB Jack Plummer
Raym, Andrew C. (Oklahoma)
Richardson, S. Demani (Texas A&M)
Jaden Shirden (RB) from Monmouth
The Panthers offer some potential and some depth to the offensive line. Plummer played four years as a journeyman at Purdue before spending a year at each of Cal and Louisville. Plummer had a quiet time as a Boilermaker before going on to have consecutive 3,000-yard, 21-touchdown throwing seasons with the Golden Bears and Cardinals.
Shirden lacks bulk and strength for a running back, but he makes up for it with quickness and burst. With 1,722 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 8.4 yards per run in 2022, he led the FCS in rushing. In 2023, he gained 1,478 yards and 10 touchdowns to follow that. Coker was another Holy Cross small-school superstar. Coker caught 109 passes for 1,952 yards and 26 touchdowns in his final two years of football. Both players will face a significant increase in competition, but if they can adjust, they have a chance to be added to the roster.
Raym has made 29 starts for the Sooners at centre, so he might be an underappreciated addition as a backup. While he may not have flawless technique or athleticism, he possesses a tenacity and instinct that could help him succeed in the NFL. We have seen Oklahoman lineman with comparable limitations flourish in the league.
Carolina brings in the hard-working Husky Mitchell on defence. Mitchell led his club in tackles in each of his three seasons as a full-time starter (2021–2023) with 120, 140, and 113. With 25 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, 10 passes defensed, and three interceptions throughout his collegiate career, he packed the stat sheet. He doesn’t cover well and has trouble getting past blocks, but his above-average play identification could be a problem.
On defence, the Panthers have signed a small school sensation. After two dominant seasons as a starter at Virginia State, Drew joins the team. In those two years, he recorded 34 passes defensed and 11 interceptions, demonstrating his exceptional ball skills. Similar to Shirden and Coker, he will have to have faith in his skills and grow to face far more formidable opposition.