​To be the man, you have to beat the man. And until someone defeats them, the Carolina Panthers remain the man of the NFC South. On Friday, Good Morning Football explored what the division could look like in 2026. Around the table, NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo and WWE star Seth Rollins shared their thoughts, joined by former linebacker Manti Te’o, who argued in defense of the reigning champions.
As Te’o observes, consistency could be Carolina’s secret weapon. The Panthers’ quarterback, Bryce Young, had a breakout 2025 season, posting career highs in passing yards (3,011), passing touchdowns (23), and completion rate (63.6 percent). Not only does Young enter 2026 with a full year in the offense under head coach Dave Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, but he also has what could be his strongest supporting cast to date in the pros.
In terms of reinforcements, the Panthers added what many regard as the top two defensive free agents of the offseason: pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd. Phillips and Lloyd are expected to bolster a defense that climbed from last in the league (32nd) in 2024 to 16th in 2025, helping to accelerate the team’s overall development.
Despite these improvements, Carolina is far from universally favored to repeat as NFC South champions. Current betting lines from DraftKings Sportsbook place the Panthers at +310 to win the division, well behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at +164 and the New Orleans Saints at +265. Still, the chatter around the Panthers has shifted in their favor, with supporters arguing that the combination of a more seasoned Young, a strengthened defense, and continuity on the coaching staff could push Carolina back into the postseason mix and once again position them as the team to beat in the NFC South.
For more Panthers coverage, follow at ThePanthersWire on X/Twitter. This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire in a piece highlighting how the Panthers are finally getting the respect they deserve from a former NFL linebacker.