CHARLOTTE — The Panthers did something over the weekend that they desperately needed to do and were overdue for.

They stopped. And they breathed. And they rested.

That's primarily because they didn't have time to do much of any of those over the previous week.

In a six-day span from March 7-12, the Panthers retained eight of their own players, signed seven from outside the organization, and released one. It was a dizzying week, which included signing cornerback Jaycee Horn to a four-year extension that will keep him here through 2029.

They also stabilized both lines, added needed depth on defense, and created a framework around which they could draft for talent rather than filling in glaring needs. There's still stuff to do between now and the draft (they still only have two safeties on the roster), but the heavy lifting is mostly done until they use their nine picks during this year's annual selection meeting.

What tells you that? The numbers.

The Panthers have 66 players under contract at the moment. Once you add in their nine draft picks (you can see the full list here) and figure they'll likely sign a dozen or so undrafted rookies, they're approaching the 90-man offseason roster limit.

That doesn't mean there won't be moves between now and the draft, but the volume won't (can't) approach last week's. Any moves that come will likely fall into the short-term category since the Panthers have made a conscious effort to maintain future flexibility under the salary cap until they get the base of the roster stabilized. Of the 66 players under contract, only 16 of them have contracts that go to 2027 or beyond, with 39 of them on deals that expire this year.

With all that in mind, here's a position-by-position look at where they stand:

QUARTERBACKS

Under contract (3): Bryce Young, Andy Dalton, Jack Plummer.
Analysis: Andy Dalton signed a new two-year deal in February. He didn't want to go anywhere, and they didn't want him going anywhere.

He can still play and was valuable to Bryce Young during the second half of the year when the former No. 1 overall pick reclaimed his job and then accelerated into the future.

And with a known commodity at quarterback, the Panthers could work on the rest of the roster this offseason, which has a value all its own.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Under contract (13): Ikem Ekwonu, Damien Lewis, Austin Corbett, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton, Cade Mays, Brady Christensen, Yosh Nijman, Chandler Zavala, Brandon Walton, Jarrett Kingston, Ja'Tyre Carter, Andrew Raym.

Analysis: Keeping Austin Corbett before the free agency period began allows them to walk into 2025 with the same projected starting five for the first time since 2016 when the Super Bowl team from 2015 brought back the same unit (Michael Oher, Andrew Norwell, Ryan Kalil, Trai Turner, Mike Remmers). Backing that up by retaining Cade Mays (who filled in capably at center) and five-position backup Brady Christensen to go along with tackle Yosh Nijman and guard Chandler Zavala allows them to build on last year's progress.

Knowing so many of those guys have flexibility is a bonus since it allows them to mix and match combinations once the year starts if injuries arrive, as they generally do.

There's still room to add players here, particularly at tackle, where they want to keep Ikem Ekwonu long-term, but Taylor Moton is entering the final year of his contract. But center's also a possibility since Corbett and Mays are on one-year deals.

TIGHT ENDS

Under contract (5): Ja'Tavion Sanders, Tommy Tremble, Jordan Matthews, Dominique Dafney, James Mitchell.

Analysis: Keeping those top two together, again, allows them to build on the offense. Ja'Tavion Sanders has the potential to turn into an every-down player, but Tommy Tremble's close to that now. He's an eager blocker and continued to take strides last year to make himself a target. The numbers dictate they'll likely add here.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Under contract (7): Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, TJ Luther, Dax Milne, Brycen Tremayne, Dan Chisena.
Analysis: Xavier Legette is the only one under contract past this year, though Jalen Coker's easy to retain for the next three. But they clearly need to add here, whether that's finding a veteran (trusted agent David Moore remains on the market) or drafting.

Considering they normally carry 10 or 12 into camp, because of all the running that position does during practice, more additions here should be expected.

RUNNING BACKS

Under contract (4): Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, Jonathon Brooks, Emani Bailey.
Analysis: Adding a 1,000-yard rusher like Rico Dowdle might seem like a luxury add, but he came at a reasonable price, offering them stability around Chuba Hubbard.

Since Jonathon Brooks is likely to miss most, if not all, this season after a second torn ACL, Dowdle provides a year of cover for him to get well while keeping that dynamic second back they want on the roster. Dowdle and Hubbard each topped 1,300 yards from scrimmage last year, and given the way the Panthers want to run, both will get plenty of work.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Under contract (10): Derrick Brown, A'Shawn Robinson, Shy Tuttle, Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown III, LaBryan Ray, Jaden Crumedy, Sam Roberts, Jerrod Clark, Popo Aumavae.

Analysis: This was the biggest area of need on the roster, so signing Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III in free agency was critical. At the moment, they're six deep in guys who have started on a regular basis, plus Jaden Crumedy who played some down the stretch last year. Assuming they add here at some point during the draft, you suddenly have competition in training camp for jobs at spots they were filling with the available last year.

That's a double benefit because if Derrick Brown and A'Shawn Robinson can be rotated, the snaps you get out of them are better. Adding a run-down guy like Bobby Brown and a pass-rusher like Wharton (8.5 sacks last year, including the playoffs) to go with Shy Tuttle and LaBryan Ray allows them to use linemen in waves. That's a proven formula and something they've wanted to build to, knowing it would take multiple offseasons.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

Under contract (8): Patrick Jones II, Jadeveon Clowney, DJ Wonnum, DJ Johnson, Amare Barno, Kenny Dyson, Thomas Incoom, Carlos Basham.
Analysis: Patrick Jones II arrived because the Panthers needed numbers at this position. They played 13 different outside linebackers in at least one game last year, and that's way too many. DJ Johnson improved and has shown value as a run defender, and D.J. Wonnum looked productive when he returned from injury in the second half of the season.

This is another position where you need to just stack assets annually because pass-rushers are at a premium in any defense. However, in this system, having more than one of them improves the greater whole, which means you're always looking for them.

LINEBACKERS

Under contract (6): Josey Jewell, Trevin Wallace, Christian Rozeboom, Claudin Cherelus, Jacoby Windmon, Jon Rhattigan.
Analysis: Having to start six different dudes here last year was, again, too many. Bringing in a guy with starting experience like Christian Rozeboom to work with Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace is beneficial.

As with most positions on defense, it's easy to justify draft additions here.

CORNERBACKS

Under contract (5): Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, Shemar Bartholomew, Chau Smith-Wade, Akayleb Evans.
Analysis: Keeping Jaycee Horn was the biggest piece of business of the offseason, both financially and thematically. For the second straight year, the Panthers have extended a former first-round pick, which becomes a statement of intent for a team that wants to draft and develop. Then, reaching a new two-year deal with Mike Jackson solidified a starting duo that led the league in pass breakups (30) last season. Chau Smith-Wade developed last year as a nickel, but it's reasonable to imagine them adding both boundary corners and others with slot experience in the coming months.

SAFETIES

Under contract (2): Demani Richardson, Tre'von Moehrig.
Analysis: Tre'von Moehrig is a tone-setter in the back, and Demani Richardson showed flashes last year. He was always around the ball in training camp, helping the undrafted rookie stick.

But there are just two of them, and they need to add four at the position just to go into camp. They don't all have to be draft picks or rookies, but a few will likely be. They need to add depth and special teams ability to the roster, and this is usually a place to find it.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Under contract (3): K Matthew Wright, P Sam Martin, LS JJ Jansen.
Analysis: Matthew Wright has been here twice previously, and the back of his football card looks very similar to Eddy Piñeiro's before the free agent arrived here. Wright is 55-of-63 on all field goals (87.3 percent) and 7-of-11 from 50 or beyond. When he arrived here in 2022, Piñeiro was 31-of-36 (86.1 percent) and 3-of-3 from 50 or longer.

Sam Martin's the same 35 years old as Johnny Hekker (who signed with the Titans) but had better numbers last year. Playing with one of the league's top offenses, he's punted 150 times over the last three seasons compared to Hekker's 236, so there's some fresh leg at work as well. It's reasonable to think they're going to add young options at both spots at some point during the offseason for the purpose of competition.

But as with previous years, all of the specialists are on one-year deals, the kind long snapper JJ Jansen is well-familiar with.