Shaq Thompson is back for another year in Carolina. Entering the offseason there was a question whether Thompson would be back under Frank Reich's coaching staff. Thompson had a prohibitive cap number that would've made him an easy cap casualty. Instead of making that move, the Panthers worked out a new deal for their defensive captain, ensuring that he'd be in Carolina for another two seasons. Is Thompson the most important piece to the Panthers defense?

Frankie Luvu went from a core special teamer to one of the Panthers top defensive players in 2022. In his first year as a starter, Luvu totaled 111 tackles and a team-high 19 tackles for loss. How much better can Luvu get in the new 3-4 scheme?

Can Brandon Smith make more of an impact in his second season in Carolina?

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