Carolina

Panthers

It’s not a surprise based on how last season ended — and how Coker blew up in the Wild Card loss to the Rams — but it’s good to get coach validation. Xavier Legette has struggled to grab hold of the role in any real way. While Coker finished the year with just a 33/394/3 line, he makes for an intriguing fantasy WR4/WR5 target in drafts and Best Ball.

Dowdle was notably down on how little he was used in the regular season finale and in the playoffs, where he rushed a combined 12 times for 19 yards, and said that would be a “factor” in his free agency. Dowdle’s fantasy stock could take a big upturn if he wound up being the obvious lead back on a new team this offseason. The Chiefs, Saints and Texans come to mind as (our speculation) possibilities. Chuba Hubbard’s stock would similarly rebound if Dowdle took off to greener pastures.

Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak is viewed as the favorite for the role, but Evero is evidently still in it. Per Fowler, Evero conveyed detailed plans for the offense and, specifically, the quarterback position during his in-person meeting with the Raiders. The presentation apparently went over well. Stay tuned.

Brooks missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL for the second time in 2024. He’s still entering his age-23 season and the third year of his rookie contract, so we can’t rule out that he’ll see a real role with the Panthers in 2026. How the Panthers treat Rico Dowdle (or a replacement for Dowdle) in free agency will likely tell us a lot about how they view Brooks’ recovery, but Panthers GM Dan Morgan did praise how he was attacking his rehab and said he’s “looking great.”

The Steelers reportedly completed virtual interviews with seven coaches during the previous week, to include, Evero, Packers DC Jeff Hafley, 49ers OC Klay Kubiak, Chargers DC Jesse Minter, Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, Rams DC Chris Schula, and Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver. The team will also reportedly conduct in-person interviews this week for the select few that made it through their first round of questioning. More to come following the unexpected departure of Mike Tomlin, who had been the league’s longest tenured coach.

Evero met virtually with the Raiders this week and will have an in-person interview sometime next week. The 45-year-old defensive coordinator also has an interview with the Steelers coming up. Evero has been a defensive coordinator for the last four years (three with the Panthers, one with the Broncos) with mixed results, though he remains respected around the league.

Bercovici recently interviewed for the Commanders’ offensive coordinator vacancy, but the Panthers opt not to let Bercovici walk. Bercovici, 32, began his coaching career at Arizona State as a graduate assistant in 2019. He signed on with the Cardinals in 2020 as a coaching assistant before being promoted to offensive assistant in 2022. He joined the Panthers’ coaching staff in 2023 and has been there ever since.

This is Evero’s first reported interview. He has also received interview requests from the Steelers and Falcons this week. Evero’s defenses have delivered volatile results over the last three seasons, but the 45-year-old coach evidently remains a respected figure in league circles.

Evero has been one of the more highly-regarded defensive coordinators in the league for a while. He has been with the Panthers as their DC for three years and previously spent a year in Denver with the same role. The Panthers just finished in the top half of the league in yards and points allowed, though they were a below-average unit by EPA per play. Evero has head coaching interviews with the Raiders, Falcons, and Steelers. He also received head coaching looks last year.

Carolina general manager Dan Morgan said Tuesday that the team would exercise Young’s option. Young in 2025 showed signs of life as a viable starting NFL quarterback, posting career highs in drop back success rate (45 percent) and adjusted yards per attempt (6.3). Young now has 49 touchdowns to 30 interceptions over three NFL seasons. Morgan added Tuesday that the Panthers were “up in the air” about a long-term deal for Young, 24. He’ll be the team’s starter for at least the next two years in any case.