Now that the 2025 season is in the books and the preparations for the 2026 offseason are well underway, we're going to take a look at where the Panthers stand for the future at each position. We'll cover one position group per day through the next two weeks, offering a look at where things stand in advance of free agency and the draft. The series started last Monday with a look at the offensive line, then running backs on Tuesday, quarterbacks on Wednesday, tight ends on Thursday, and wide receivers on Friday.

This week, we'll be looking at the defense. We started with the defensive line on Monday, outside linebacker on Tuesday, inside linebackers on Wednesday, safety on Thursday, and cornerbacks on Friday.

CHARLOTTE — The Panthers special teams in 2025 were kind of like the team as a whole.

The young. The old. And it mostly worked.

With veteran long snapper JJ Jansen and almost-as-veteran punter Sam Martin, plus undrafted rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, the Panthers found a good mix in 2025, which led to some late-game winners and the kind of consistent play they needed.

Fitzgerald tied for the league lead with four game-winning field goals, the kind of late-game drama the team became known for, while hitting 24-of-29 field goals on the season (82.8 percent).

But they also (mostly) covered well, with Martin one of six punters with at least 25 punts downed inside the 20 (27) and three or fewer touchbacks (three). If not for the New England game, in which Marcus Jones returned three punts for 167 yards and a touchdown, Martin's numbers would have been among the top of the league. Of course, conveniently ignoring the bad parts isn't intellectually honest.

UNDER CONTRACT FOR 2026: K Ryan Fitzgerald (2027), LS JJ Jansen (2026).

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: P Sam Martin.

WHAT WENT RIGHT IN 2025

It appears the Panthers found themselves a kicker.

Fitzgerald won the preseason competition with journeyman Matthew Wright, and he flourished.

Beginning with his walk-off against Dallas, he showed he has the kind of nerve you don't expect from a rookie. He also hit game winners against the Falcons, Packers, and Bucs, in a season in which the Panthers made late-game runs a thing.

Since 2000, only seven rookies in the league have had as many as three game-winning kicks, and he matched Dan Bailey (2011) for the lead with four.

He was also effective on kickoffs, able to handle a new skill to strategically use the "dirty kicks" early to help the Panthers rank near the top in kickoff coverage (third in average opposing starting field position after kickoff return).

NEXT STEPS FOR 2026

The first big step was bringing Jansen back for his 18th season with the team. He's been the model of consistency, as he approached his 40th birthday.

Now, they need to find a punter, as Martin's an unrestricted free agent.

He's turning 36 this week, but had a solid season by any measure. He was ninth in the league with 27 punts inside the 20, 48.2 percent of his punts (sixth by percentage). He dropped 19.6 percent of his punts inside the 10, tied for fifth-most in the league.

He also converted a successful onside kick in Week 2. Since the league changed the onside kick rules in 2018, only eight players have converted more than two (he has three), and he's the only punter.

But since he's a free agent, he gets a choice in this, too.

The Panthers also have some decisions to make among their coverage players, with leading tackler Thomas Incoom a restricted free agent.