According to multiple reports, the Panthers plan to hire Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales as their next head coach.
"It will get done," a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday.
Panthers are hiring Buccaneers’ offensive Dave Canales as their new head coach, per sources. Panthers have offered the job and Canales is taking it. “It will get done,” per source. pic.twitter.com/yddN1uEKyd
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 25, 2024
It got done later Thursday night, the Panthers confirmed on their official website.
While the length of Canales' contract and other details were not announced (reports indicate it's a six-year deal), Canales becomes the seventh head coach in franchise history -- and, as Profootballtalk.com pointed out, the third to be hired by owner David Tepper, who bought the team in 2018.
PFT's Michael David Smith notes that Canales, 42, went from strength coach at USC with Pete Carroll to Seattle receivers coach in 2010. He stayed with the Seahawks through 2022, finishing his stint as quarterbacks coach. He worked as an offensive coordinator for only one year.
Canales gets the nod over an impressive list of candidates who interviewed: Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, and former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
Newly-hired Panthers GM Dan Morgan spent eight years with Canales with the Seahawks from 2010-2017. So, as ESPN.com's David Newtson suggests, familiarity with Morgan and being a disciple of Carroll were factors.
Canales inherits a Carolina team that finished with an NFL-worst 2-15 record in 2023 and six straight losing seasons since Tepper purchased the team in 2018.
Fantasy Impact in Carolina
The prime objective will be turning Bryce Young's NFL career around. The Panthers are hoping what Canales did for quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Geno Smith, and, most recently, Baker Mayfield he can do for Young.
Canales was the passing game coordinator for the Seahawks in 2020 when Wilson had a career-high 4,212 yards passing, 40 touchdowns, and a 68.8 completion percentage. He was the quarterbacks coach for Seattle in 2022 when Smith passed for a career-high 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns with a 69.8 completion percentage.
With Canales running the offense in Tampa Bay, Mayfield established himself as a productive starting quarterback by posting career highs in passing yards (4,044), touchdowns (28), and completion percentage (64.3) this past season.
It's safe to say Tepper saw Canales help Mayfield rebuild his career and the Bucs return to the playoffs after claiming a third straight NFC South title. It's equally safe to say duplicating that feat in Carolina will be challenging.
As Newton reminded readers, Young, the top pick of the 2023 draft, had statistically one of the worst seasons in NFL history for a quarterback taken with the top pick. The Panthers went 2-14 in Young's 16 starts (he missed one game because of an ankle injury), passing for 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions with a 59.8 completion percentage.
The offensive line was a huge issue for the Panthers last year; it was better suited for run blocking than pass protection. Footballguy Matt Bitonti's final 2023 Offensive-Line Rankings have the Panthers at No. 16 in run blocking and 29th in pass blocking.
Morgan and Canales must address that before they can expect more from Young.
They'll also need to bolster a receiving corps led by Adam Thielen, D.J. Chark Jr (an unrestricted free agent), and promising youngster Jonathan Mingo.
Fantasy managers should monitor both issues in the coming weeks as they try to assess Young's 2024 draft value.
Fantasy Impact in Tampa Bay
As much as fantasy managers would like for the entire offensive package to remain intact after a 2023 campaign that far exceeded expectations, retaining free agents like Mayfield and Mike Evans will be more determinative when values are being set for this offense heading into the 2024 season. That said, early reports suggest Thad Lewis, the team's current QB coach, is a candidate to replace Canales.