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David Newton, ESPN staff writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers’ backfield is getting crowded.
The team plans to draft former first-round pick Rashaad Penny, pairing him with coach Dave Canales from their days with the Seattle Seahawks, a league source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The move is expected to be after rookie minicamp this weekend.
Penny will join 2024 second-round pick Jonathan Brooks, Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and Raheem Blackshear in Carolina’s backfield.
Brooks is coming off surgery to repair the torn ACL he suffered last season at Texas. He said after the draft that he expects to be medically cleared in time for training camp, but getting an additional linebacker may be necessary while he eases into the system.
Benny is very familiar with Canales’ system, which is characterized by its running and versatility. He had his best season with the Seahawks in 2021 when Canales was the passing game coordinator and new Carolina offensive coordinator Brad Idzik was an offensive assistant. He rushed 119 times for 749 yards and six touchdowns.
Adding Penny could also give the Panthers flexibility in trading Sanders, who lost the starting job to Hubbard last season, though general manager Dan Morgan said he sees a “big role” for the 2019 second-round pick out of Penn State.
Penny, 28, played last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, but appeared in only three games and rushed 11 times for 33 yards.
Selected by the Seahawks in the first round (27th overall) of the 2018 draft, he has rushed for 1,951 yards and 13 touchdowns in six seasons.
