CHARLOTTE — Of all the improvements the Panthers made over the last year, the job they did on defense might have been the most dramatic.

A year ago, they set the all-time league record for points allowed in a season, and ranked last in the league in yards and points allowed. This year, they're 15th in scoring defense and 16th in total defense, moving halfway up the ladder in a single year.

So, of course, Dave Canales wants to keep defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

When asked the day after the season-ending playoff loss to the Rams if he was going to retain him, Canales replied: "Absolutely, yeah, 100 percent."

"I have complete trust in Ejiro," he said. "Love the way that he's brought this group to play quality football together, and he's got my full support. Love our scheme, love what we do there, and getting our guys to play together when we execute this scheme, it's really difficult to play against, and the guys have found a way to play together, communicate together.

"And really, like you saw last night and glimpses of the style of play that we're looking for, the big hits, the tackling, the coverage on the back end and all that, and the rush at times and the pressure packages, the different things that he was able to do to create rush, to create pressure for quarterbacks. I just love where we're headed that way and as always, with all of our schemes we'll look at it and we'll continue to evolve, we'll continue to push the envelope and move forward from there."

When Evero was hired here in 2023 to work with then-coach Frank Reich, he signed a three-year contract, but that was subsequently extended.

Canales also said he was going to continue to call offensive plays, but said they'd continue to look for ways to get better.

"All of these questions and all the stuff that we're going to be talking about as a staff coming up in the next couple of days," he said. "Trying to get a chance to regroup on the whole season and how it came out, we're always going to look for ways to try to improve what we're doing."

Rico Dowdle on free agency

Running back Rico Dowdle is the most recognizable name on the team's list of free agents, and he said Sunday he was going to take everything into account when it came to his future.

That included the snap distribution flipping back Chuba Hubbard's way last night against the Rams, to the return from injury of Jonathon Brooks.

When asked if he wanted to return, Dowdle said: "I don't really, I don't really know right now. I really don't have an answer for that question if I want to be back or not. I'm just going to see how things go."

Dowdle posted his second straight 1,000-yard season after joining the team on a one-year deal.

But after topping 180 yards in Weeks 5 and 6 when Hubbard was hurt, he hasn't had the same kind of impact since.

"I had a couple good games during the season," Dowdle said Sunday. "But I think it could have been a lot better, but you know it is what it is.

Derrick Brown values team goals over individual

For veteran defensive tackle and team captain Derrick Brown, making the playoffs is not enough. But making the playoffs still has a lot of meaning for a guy who experienced some of the lean years here.

That's why the idea of being considered for comeback player of the year is appealing, but what he just achieved matters more.

"I look back on it and last year I didn't get this opportunity to play ball," Brown said. "So just to be able to come back, the greatest reward I can have from this year is being able to play all 18 games and be available for this team. The personal aspect of it, yeah, you want a personal award, but you know, I think it's so many people that just trash on this team and this organization that you know, being able to make the playoffs was the greatest reward for me in this season. We want to bring playoff football back here.

And people say, " Man, you have to leave here, leave this organization to be able to ever go win. So I mean, just to be able to slap those people in the face, that is what it is for me. My play is always going to be what it is. If you don't respect it, then I know you better respect it come Sunday. So, I don't take anything to that. I mean, yeah, it pisses me off, but somebody's got to get it on Sunday."

Brown was also left off the Pro Bowl team this year, and was seventh among all defensive tackles in All-Pro voting.

"I mean, like I said, man, if you don't think I'm a good player, then I'll see you on Sunday," Brown said. "That's the best I can tell you. And if you don't respect me, you're going to be in for a long game."

Young receivers, including Xavier Legette, ready to build

With Saturday's big game from Jalen Coker and the all-year excellence of Tetairoa McMillan, and the fact that all five of his active wideouts were winning their first or second season, Canales said he was encouraged with his receiving unit on the whole and the way they worked with quarterback Bryce Young

That includes Xavier Legette, whose offensive snaps declined in the second half of the season, and who replaced one of the running backs as the second deep man next to Trevor Etienne on kickoffs.

When asked what Legette needed to do, Canales was clear.

"Just keep grinding, keep working, connecting with Bryce, making sure that they're on the same page, making the plays when they come to him," Canales said. "It's that simple, when you get opportunities in this league, this game, all the margins are so fine, it's just critical that when you're called upon, when your number's called, you make the play. And that's how you build trust, and that's how you get things back on track.

"But you know, the thing I respect about Xavier is that through this process, all he's done is work. All he's done is just continue to try to find ways how can I help? And he continued to block, and he continued to be available. He was returning kicks yesterday, you know, just finding ways to do that, and he's just made of the right stuff. I have full faith and confidence that Xavier will bounce back and have an excellent year next year."

Corbett's future uncertain, but roots have been planted

Austin Corbett isn't certain what his future holds football-wise. The offensive lineman is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, meaning he can negotiate with other teams in March. But he and his wife do know where their life outside of football will be based.

"You can't ask for a better city to have it all," he said Sunday of Charlotte. "It's not a big city by any means, and we love it. We did our time in LA, and we're good—and, so this is perfect for us."

But of course, the eight-year vet would also like to continue his career where he's spent the past four years, for the club that made him their Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee this season, and the city that he saw come to life in a way he'd dreamed of on Saturday night.

"It's a combination of like, you want to be back, it's why I came here to be a part of something to change the culture and to be a part of that and so to be in the Bank last night and to see what that was like, that's why I wanted to come here," said Corbett during locker room clean out day.

"So I was like, yeah, I want to be back, and they honored me with man of the year this year. So I'm just grateful for this whole organization, and we'll see what it is."

The long-time vet also understands the business side of things: despite beginning the season as a starter, injuries and personnel shuffles meant he finished the year as a swing interior lineman, not a starter.

"This is definitely the year of ups and downs for me, my first time I've played three positions in a single year," shared Corbett. "I knew I was strong-minded. I knew I was committed to my craft, but, initially had to put it to test, I guess you could say, and so to battle IR, to battle playing left guard for the first time in six years to center, right guard, center, right guard, back and forth, back and forth, and, to even yesterday, I let Rob (Hunt) do his thing, that's the business side of it."

Regardless of what comes next, though, Corbett is thankful for the perseverance he found in himself this season.

"To be able to do it all with just a smile on my face, it just, it made me a test of the character of how I want to be perceived by my children in the face of adversity.

"And that's everything that I play this game for now is for them, it's for my wife, and so it was definitely the ultimate test of a year that I've had throughout my entire football career since I was seven. Never had anything like it, so it's a perfect time to do it when you turn 30."

Canales purposeful in showing trust in Etienne after fumble

When returner Trevor Etienne muffed a punt on Saturday night, giving the Rams possession on the Panthers 41-yard line, the rookie jogged to the sideline, sat down on the far left end of the bench, and stared straight ahead for the next couple of minutes, shellshocked at his third fumble of the season, and first since Week 12. The defense stopped Los Angeles on downs that drive, but the mistake lingered.

But when Los Angeles punted again on their following drive, it was Etienne back to take the ball once again.

"It was just, it was the exception, not the rule," said Canales of the Etienne muff. "He's done a fabulous job of continuing to improve catching punts and kicks, the kickoffs. He's worked tirelessly at it."

Etienne finished the day with one fair catch on a punt, the turnover, and letting two roll out of bounds. He also returned three kickoffs for 63 yards, with a long of 24 yards. It added to his regular season stat line of 20 punt returns for 163 yards, with a long of 16 yards, and 31 kickoff returns for 733 yards, with a long of 45 yards.

"He dropped the ball, you know, and it was an unfortunate play, but we, I wanted him to know we got your back. Let's go," said Canales. It was a picture of how the coach wants to run his program, with accountability and support.

"We all make mistakes, and that should be the feeling is we want to make sure that we create an environment that's accountable for all of us, and we share those things from myself to the coordinators and all the coaches and players alike.

"Our Tell the Truth Monday is what it is because none of us are exempt from that, and I want the guys to feel that they're getting a fair shot to be able to redeem themselves and just get right back to work."