The Cardinals and Panthers will be kicking off the NFL’s 2026 preseason schedule.
The NFL announced on Wednesday that the two teams will be playing in this August’s Hall of Fame Game. The game will be held on August 6 in Canton, Ohio with this year’s Hall of Fame induction ceremonies set for August 8.
It is the first time the Panthers will play in the game since 1995. The Cardinals have made five appearances with the last one coming in 2017.
Both teams will be represented at those ceremonies as well. Former Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald and former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly are both entering the Hall this year.
The rest of this year’s class includes former Saints quarterback Drew Brees, former Patriots and Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, and former 49ers running back Roger Craig.
Teams making decisions about picking up the fifth-year options on the contracts of their 2023 first-round picks now know how much that will cost.
The NFL revealed the values on Friday afternoon. There are four levels of compensation at each position. Players who have made multiple Pro Bowls as an original selection are at the top followed by players with one Pro Bowl selection and players who have hit playing time milestones before reaching the lowest level.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud were the first two picks of that draft and both of them reached the playing time level of compensation. That will leave them with fully guaranteed salaries of $25.904 million if the teams decide to exercise the options, but longer-term extensions are also a possibility now that they have finished their third seasons.
The full list of 2023 first-rounders — there were 31 that year because the Dolphins were stripped of their pick — and their fifth-year option salaries appears below:
1. Panthers QB Bryce Young — $25.904 million (playing time).
2. Texans QB C.J. Stroud — $25.904 million (playing time).
3. Texans DE Will Anderson — $21.512 (Pro Bowl).
4. Colts QB Anthony Richardson — $22.483 million (base).
5. Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon — $21.161 million (multiple Pro Bowls).
6. Cardinals OT Paris Johnson — $19.072 million (playing time).
7. Raiders DE Tyree Wilson — $14.475 million (base).
8. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson — $11.323 million (Pro Bowl).
9. Eagles DT Jalen Carter — $27.127 million (multiple Pro Bowls).
10. Bears OT Darnell Wright — $19.072 million (playing time).
11. Titans OG Peter Skoronski — $19.072 million (playing time).
12. Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs — $14.293 million (multiple Pro Bowls).
13. Packers DE Lukas Van Ness — $14.475 million (base).
14. Steelers OT Broderick Jones — $19.072 million (playing time).
15. Jets DE Will McDonald — $14.475 million (base).
16. Rams CB Emmanuel Forbes — $12.633 million (base).
17. Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez — $18.119 million (Pro Bowl).
18. Lions LB Jack Campbell — $21.925 million (Pro Bowl).
19. Buccaneers DT Calijah Kancey — $15.451 (playing time).
20. Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba — $23.852 million (Pro Bowl).
21. Chargers WR Quentin Johnston — $18 million (playing time).
22. Ravens WR Zay Flowers — $27.298 million (multiple Pro Bowls).
23. Vikings WR Jordan Addison — $18 million (playing time).
24. Giants CB Deonte Banks — $12.633 million (base).
25. Bills TE Dalton Kincaid — $8.162 million (base).
26. Jets DT Mazi Smith — $13.391 million (base) Smith was traded to the Jets by the Cowboys.
27. Jaguars OT Anton Harrison — $19.072 million (playing time).
28. Bengals DE Myles Murphy — $14.475 million (base).
29. Saints DT Bryan Bresee — $13.391 million (base).
30. Eagles LB Nolan Smith — $13.752 million (base).
31. Chiefs Felix Anudike-Uzomah — $14.475 million (base).
If another team wants to make a bid to acquire quarterback Andy Dalton in a trade with the Panthers, it sounds like General Manager Dan Morgan will be amenable to working with them.
A report this week indicated that teams have reached out about a deal for the veteran backup and Morgan said at a press conference on Tuesday that the team was looking to add a younger option behind Bryce Young on the depth chart. During a Thursday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Morgan did not confirm receiving overtures from other clubs but he said he’d be open to them and to letting Dalton have a say in what he wants to do in 2026.
“There’s a potential that somebody may want him,” Morgan said. “Andy’s a really good player, and he’s a great guy, great culture fit for us. I haven’t talked to any teams about a trade, but I think if the possibility did come up then I would talk to Andy, give him that option and let him explore a trade. I do think we want to get a little younger and a little more athletic at that backup quarterback spot.”
A Dalton trade likely wouldn’t bring a lot back to the Panthers in return, but he is guaranteed $2 million this season and Morgan’s plan to look for other options means that there might not be a place for him in Carolina for the 2026 season. Depending on who is showing interest, that could make a trade an appealing option for all involved.
Panthers coach Dave Canales is handing off play calling to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik this season. But the person Canales really wants to see making calls is quarterback Bryce Young.
Canales said that as Young continues to grow in his ownership of the Panthers’ offense, he’ll increasingly be able to change plays at the line when he recognizes mismatches with the opposing defense.
“Just continue to pour into our system, our concepts, the ownership of it,” Canales said, via Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com. “I love the strides we’ve taken in terms of the operation, how he gets us up there, makes great calls, fixes our protection problems, finding solutions in areas where we’ve talked about to take advantage of coverages, takes advantage of different fronts for run plays, and just wanting Bryce to continue to grow in the ownership of those things. Because there are more opportunities for Bryce to affect the game at the line of scrimmage, and I want to continue to build off of that.”
Canales pointed to a call Young made on a 52-yard pass to Jalen Coker in the Panthers’ playoff game as an example of what he’s eager to see Young keep doing.
“He saw a particular coverage and got us to an explosive play to Jalen Coker down the field, and it was the study,” Canales said. “It was the understanding. It was getting out of the huddle in a timely fashion and being able to seize a moment. I want more moments like that for Bryce.”
As Young heads into his fourth NFL season, that’s the next big step the Panthers need him to take.
Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu played only eight snaps in the team’s wild-card playoff loss to the Rams. It could mean he misses more time to start the 2026 season.
Ekwonu ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee, an injury that required surgery.
That could put the Panthers in the market for a bridge left tackle.
“I just talked to him the other day, so he’s in good spirits,” General Manager Dan Morgan said of Ekwonu. “Unfortunate what happened. Obviously, timeline-wise, I don’t really have a timeline; we’ll see how it progresses. We’ll see how it goes, but so far it’s looking good, and as far as the timeline, I don’t have that right now.
“In terms of the impact in the draft, free agency, offensive line is a position that we’re always going to be looking at, always trying to upgrade and have as much depth as possible there. So we’re just going to attack that like we usually do.”
Yosh Nijman, a free agent, started at both right and left tackle last season, so re-signing Nijman might be a priority with the Panthers uncertain about Ekwonu’s return.
“I really don’t [know],” Morgan said. “But, I’m optimistic that he’s going to put the work in, and he’ll be ready when that time comes.”
