Browns vs. Panthers: 4 matchups to watch in preseason opener

After having one of the more intriguing offseasons in the entire NFL, this Cleveland Browns team will finally take the field for the first time on Friday night in Carolina.

After a brutal 3-14 season in 2024, the Browns underwent an abundance of changes this offseason. The team bid farewell to one of its former franchise cornerstones, brought in four new quarterbacks, and added numerous new pieces on both sides of the ball.

While not all of those new pieces (or quarterbacks) will play on Friday, the Carolina Panthers present an interesting challenge for Cleveland. While the Panthers didn’t have the most impressive 2024 season either, finishing 5-12, the team did get a surprising late-season breakout from former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, revamped its’ defense this offseason, and added the draft’s top receiver in Tetairoa McMillan. Despite the poor record, the Panthers are a team that has some expectations heading into the 2025 season as they look to build on that progress from their starting quarterback.

For the Browns’ first matchup of the 2025 preseason, here are four key matchups to watch:

Shedeur Sanders vs. Panthers starting defense

Shedeur Sanders’ highly-anticipated preseason debut will come against a starting unit. While it might be a defense that ranked 32nd in yards and points allowed in 2024, the Panthers made a concerted effort to improve the defense this offseason by using two top-100 picks on edge rushers and adding key free-agent signings like Trevon Moehrig and Tershawn Wharton.

Sanders will be further tested by playing without most of the Browns’ first-team offense, as head coach Kevin Stefanski announced today that the starting offensive line and wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman will not play on Friday.

Sanders’ first NFL snaps will be closely watched, and they’ll allow Sanders to make up ground in the Browns’ quarterback competition.

Browns receivers vs. Panthers secondary

As previously mentioned, veterans Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman will not play on Friday, meaning that players like Jamari Thrash, Diontae Johnson, and DeAndre Carter will have a big opportunity to show they can become a reliable third starter at receiver.

Unfortunately, the receivers won’t be facing Carolina’s secondary at full strength. Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters that cornerback Jaycee Horn will not play Friday after being involved in a car accident on Wednesday morning, so veterans Mike Jackson and Chau Smith-Wade will likely be the top outside corners available for the Panthers this week.

Still, the Browns will need an impressive performance from one of their depth receivers over the next several weeks to feel comfortable about the position heading into the 2025 season, and Friday will be the first real opportunity for any of them to step up.

Dylan Sampson vs. Panthers run defense

With Quinshon Judkins’ status still unclear for the foreseeable future, the preseason will provide a massive opportunity for rookie fourth-round pick Dylan Sampson to prove he deserves a big role in the run game early in his career.

While it’s unclear if Panthers Pro Bowl defensive tackle Derrick Brown will play on Friday, the additions of former Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Bobby Brown and the aforementioned Tershawn Wharton showed a clear focus by Carolina to improve its run defense this offseason. Sampson’s first NFL carries will come against a front that is also seeking to prove itself, so there will be high stakes for both parties involved.

Mason Graham vs. the Panthers' interior offensive line

With the Panthers’ starters on the interior of their offensive line expected to play, fifth-overall pick Mason Graham’s first live action will come against a unit that had a solid 2024 campaign. Panthers guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt were ranked as the 15th and 16th-best guards across the NFL by PFF earlier this offseason, and Hunt was selected to the first Pro Bowl of his career in 2024.

While Graham may not have quite as much at stake as the other rookies who will be playing Friday, the former Michigan star proving early on that he can take on high-level competition would be one less thing for the Browns to worry about heading into the 2025 season. With a battle against a good interior unit looming, Graham will get the chance to do just that.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns vs. Panthers: 4 matchups to watch in preseason opener