Complete list of Panthers 2026 free agents

Jan 10, 2026 at 07:54 PM

Darin Gantt

CHARLOTTE — At the conclusion of the 2025 season, the Panthers now have 24 players eligible for unrestricted free agency.

That group includes running back Rico Dowdle, who posted his second straight 1,000-yard season, along with center Cade Mays and the experienced offensive line corps of Austin Corbett, Yosh Nijman, Brady Christensen, and Jake Curhan.

On defense, safety Nick Scott, linebacker Christian Rozeboom, and outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum lead the list.

The negotiation period with free agents begins March 9 at noon and ends at 3:59 p.m. on March 11. During that time, teams can contact and enter into contract negotiations with the agents of free agents, but no deals with teams can be finalized. The league year begins at 4 p.m. on March 11, at which point free agents can execute contracts.

Here's a look at the complete list of players whose contracts expire after the season:

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (18)

OL Austin Corbett (Signed with Buffalo, March 26)
OT Yosh Nijman (Announced his retirement, March 11)
OL Cade Mays (Reportedly agreed with Detroit, March 9)
OL Brady Christensen
OL Jake Curhan
WR David Moore (Re-signed, March 10)
RB Rico Dowdle (Reportedly agreed with Pittsburgh, March 9)
OLB DJ Wonnum (Agreed to terms with Detroit, March 17)
OLB Trevis Gipson (Re-signed, March 16)
LB Christian Rozeboom (Agreed to terms with Tampa Bay, March 23)
LB Krys Barnes
CB Akayleb Evans (Re-signed, March 11)
CB Robert Rochell (Re-signed, March 10)
CB Damarri Mathis
S Nick Scott (Agreed to terms, March 14)
S Isaiah Simmons (Re-signed, March 10)
P Sam Martin (Agreed to terms, March 16)
LS JJ Jansen (Re-signed, Feb. 17)

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (4)
TE James Mitchell (Re-signed, March 16)
DE LaBryan Ray (Re-signed, March 10)
OLB Thomas Incoom (Re-signed, March 10)
LB Claudin Cherelus (Re-signed, March 13)

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS (2)
WR Jalen Coker (Tendered contract, Mar. 4)
WR Brycen Tremayne (Tendered contract, Mar. 4)

Players become unrestricted free agents if they have four or more accrued seasons when their contract expires. Restricted free agents have three accrued seasons, and exclusive rights free agents have two or fewer accrued seasons. The Panthers can tender a contract and then match any offer made by another team to their restricted free agents, while exclusive rights free agents will either be offered and accept a contract from the Panthers or not be offered a contract and become a free agent.

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The Carolina Panthers face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025 at Bank of American Stadium in Charlotte, NC.