CHARLOTTE, NC – The NFL season never truly ends; it just enters new phases. For the Carolina Panthers' front office, the "offseason" phase began immediately after the Wild Card loss, marked by a flurry of roster moves aimed at building depth and competition for 2026.
The most recent transaction came on January 19, 2026, when the team signed cornerback Michael Reid (also referred to as Mike Reid in some sources) to a reserve/futures contract. Reid, who spent the latter part of the 2025 season on the team's practice squad, will now have the opportunity to compete for a roster spot during training camp and the preseason. These contracts are standard procedure for players not on an active roster at season's end, allowing teams to secure their rights for the upcoming league year.
This move followed a larger wave of future deals on January 12, where the Panthers signed 15 players to similar contracts. This group typically consists of practice squad holdovers and young players the organization wants to develop through the spring and summer.
To make room on the 90-man offseason roster, corresponding moves are often required. On January 14, the Panthers waived safety D'Anthony Bell. Bell was a late-season acquisition, claimed off waivers in late December 2025 to provide depth in the secondary. His release indicates the team is already evaluating and turning over the back end of its roster.
These moves are the first, quiet steps in a long offseason process. They carry little immediate fanfare but are essential for constructing a competitive 90-man roster for OTAs and training camp. The Panthers also have several players rehabbing injuries, including offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu (2025: 4th year) (knee), who is listed as questionable for the start of camp, and defensive end Tershawn Wharton. As General Manager Dan Morgan shifts his focus to bigger tasks like free agency and the draft (where the Panthers hold the 19th overall pick), the foundation of the offseason roster is being laid one futures contract at a time.