ESPN released their preseason power rankings yesterday — their first since the 2017 NFL Draft concluded in April — and the Panthers moved up one spot on the list.
16. Carolina Panthers
2016 record: 6-10
Post-draft ranking: No. 17
Cam Newton's health is the biggest question mark at training camp. But No. 8 overall pick Christian McCaffrey could provide some relief for Newton, who took more hits on runs than any other quarterback last season.
Given the facts that a) the Panthers are coming off the heels of a disastrous 6-10 finish in 2016 thanks to injuries across multiple key positions, and b) Cam Newton is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, this ranking isn’t much of a surprise.