Saahdiq Charles

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Panthers' $1.2M deal with Saahdiq Charles represents a slight overpay for what amounts to depth guard insurance, earning a D+ CVI that reflects limited upside at an inflated price point for his production tier. Charles has struggled to establish himself as anything more than a replacement-level interior lineman since entering the league, bouncing between practice squads and brief active roster stints without demonstrating the consistency or technical prowess needed for regular snaps. At 26, he's past the developmental curve where teams typically see meaningful improvement from raw offensive line prospects, making this investment questionable given Carolina's salary cap constraints. The contract structure appears to be a low-risk gamble, but even minimal guaranteed money feels excessive for a player who hasn't proven he belongs in an NFL starting rotation. This signing screams organizational desperation for depth rather than strategic roster building, as the Panthers essentially paid backup money for a player whose ceiling appears to be emergency fill-in duty.

Performance Analysis

Saahdiq Charles is performing at a replacement-level tier right now, and the F performance grade reflects a situation where there is simply not enough sustained action to establish any meaningful foothold among starting-caliber guards in the NFL. In two games of action this season, the data does not support identifying a statistical strength to highlight — his involvement has been too limited and too situational to generate a meaningful sample. That same reality is his most glaring weakness: a five-year veteran drafted in the fourth round in 2020 who is still operating on a practice squad elevation basis has not carved out the consistent role that his tenure in the league would suggest he should by now. Charles was activated alongside Isaiah Simmons strictly for a single-game matchup, which is the definition of a depth move rather than a genuine roster push — a game-week elevation that carries no guarantees beyond the weekend it was made. The mediaFraming around this situation is clear-eyed: despite carrying the faint sheen of a former first-round pedigree label in some coverage, Charles is a practice squad piece whose path to a permanent roster spot runs almost exclusively through injury attrition elsewhere on the offensive line. With the Panthers in the offseason and 133 days out from the 2026 regular season opener, there is time for the situation to evolve, but nothing in the current data suggests Charles is in the organization's long-term plans at guard.

Fan Sentiment

A depth-level roster elevation that carries minimal long-term significance for the Panthers. Headlines show Charles was elevated alongside Isaiah Simmons strictly for a single-game matchup. The key signal is his practice squad status — a temporary, game-week-only move. Fans are mildly intrigued given his first-round pedigree, but expectations remain appropriately low. Charles is unlikely to crack the permanent roster unless injuries force the issue.