Alabama is seeking prospects in order to increase the depth of their roster at critical positions.As the weakest club in the league, Carolina would have picked first in the NFL Draft this year as well, but the Panthers traded into the top slot in 2023 to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. Carolina held the top pick in the draft in April.
In Frank Reich’s first season as the Panthers’ coach, Carolina won just one of their first 11 games and fired Reich. After spending the whole season in charge, special teams coordinator Chris Tabor led Carolina to a 2-15 record.
Three days after appointing former Panthers linebacker Dan Morgan as general manager, Carolina selected Dave Canales as its next head coach on Thursday, rejecting more experienced candidates like former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, according to The Associated Press.
Canales oversaw offensive operations for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. This season, the Bucs won both of their NFC South games against Carolina, 21-18 and 9-0.
Among the 32 NFL clubs, Tampa Bay ranked 20th in points and 23rd in yards during the 2023 NFL regular season.
Canales worked for Pete Carroll for 13 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks until coming to the Buccaneers in 2023. He spent eight seasons coaching wide receivers, three seasons coaching quarterbacks, and two seasons coordinating passing plays.
Young started 16 of the 17 games the Panthers played in his first season, missing one due to an ankle ailment.
The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner rushed for 253 yards on 39 attempts and completed 315 of 527 passes for 2,877 yards with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Young had the lowest passing efficiency rating of any of the 32 NFL quarterbacks who completed at least 250 passes in the 2023 season, at 73.7.
Canales will take over as Carolina’s eighth head coach following David Tepper’s 2018 acquisition of the team.
