With the Carolina Panthers’ offseason program come and gone, what did we learn the past couple months? In all honesty, not a ton. You can’t glean much from padless practices, plus a free agency period lacking much drama meant no juicy storylines.With that said, there are a handful of things we know now that we didn’t when everyone got back together in April:

Charles Johnson May Move

After Johnson had spent the first two weeks of OTAs on the right side of the defensive line, coach Ron Rivera denied it was a permanent move: “It was all part of a rotation.” But Johnson has played all but one of his previous eight seasons (2011) on the left side, so it’s not like he’s ever been in much of a rotation on the right.It’d be silly for Rivera to show his cards in June, so it’s not surprising he didn’t want the media to make this a thing. Yet unless Frank Alexander, Kony Ealy, Wes Horton or Mario Addison blows up in training camp, it’d make a plenty of sense for the Panthers to use shift Johnson — still their best pass rusher — to the right.

Kelvin Benjamin Started His Sophomore Season Slowly

There are two schools of thought here:

1. The second-year receiver showed a lack of accountability by showing up overweight, something that MAY have caused him to tweak both hamstrings.
2. Benjamin will probably be where he needs to be by training camp, and this was just a story that helped fill a couple news-starved days in June.

The reality likely falls somewhere in the middle.It’s concerning that Benjamin didn’t take care of himself the way he was supposed to, but it’s not like he missed the most vital part of the year. What would be more troublesome is if his hamstring issues had nothing to do with his weight, something we glossed over while focusing on a sexier headline.

Brenton Bersin Shouldn’t Be Counted Out

When the Panthers upgraded their receiving corps, simple addition made it appear Bersin’s run on the roster would be a one-year deal. That may not be the case.He again spent the spring showing dependable hands and a strong connection with the man who matters most — quarterback Cam Newton. While Bersin was making plays, free agent addition Jarrett Boykin was mostly MIA. And even though Rivera continued to talk up Stephen Hill, Bersin spent most of his snaps with the starters while Hill remained further back in line.He’s certainly not a lock to stick around for a second season, but it’s clear Bersin’s chances are much better than many fans had hoped.

Corey Brown is Confident

Since the setup of offseason workouts allow receivers to shine (or not), this is a wideout-heavy list. But there was something different about Brown all spring, and it wasn’t just his name.He didn’t lack confidence as a rookie, yet that seemed to translate onto the field better in his second go-round. Perhaps it was because he added some weight. Whatever it was, Brown belonged. He wasn’t just out there because the Panthers didn’t have better options. His ceiling still may not be all that high, but he’s more than just a guy who was lucky to be on a roster as an undrafted rookie.

Mike Remmers Needs to be Versatile

Remmers had to walk on at Oregon State. Then he bounced around five teams in the NFL. So when the sixth finally gave him a starting job late last season, he was acutely aware the moment could be fleeting.As they promised, the Panthers kept Remmers as the top right tackle during the spring. But it’s reasonable to wonder how long he’s just keeping that spot warm for fourth-round pick Daryl Williams, who’s built like a brick house.That transition may have started by giving Remmers a look at backup center. The Panthers are big on having versatile offensive linemen, so the more he can do, the better it is for everyone. Except for Brian Folkerts, possibly.If Remmers can prove he can play center, he may make Folkerts expendable. It’s a thought that may cross minds when it’s time to do number crunching come cut time.

Cam Newton and Thomas Davis Are Locked In

It wasn’t a question of IF the team’s most important player and its emotional leader were going to get contract extensions. The Panthers just answered the ‘when’ question for both this month.’Distractions’ are an overused excuse in the NFL, but it’s not hard to see how either situation could have started to spoil if left hanging through the summer. While they were basically formalities, getting the deals done was an essential part of the Panthers’ offseason plan.

Bruce DeHaven is Living the Motto

Some plans don’t work out, which is a bummer when it’s something like a draft pick-turned-bust. But the wrench thrown DeHaven’s way this spring was a reminder that life overrules football.Two months after he was promoted to special teams coordinator, DeHaven had to tell his boss he couldn’t work for a while. Rivera responded by leaving his seat open, hopeful he could return.Russ Purnell came in on short notice — and out of retirement — to help out, but the job was never far from DeHaven’s mind. So he kept pounding, and after beginning cancer treatment, he was back at work by the start of minicamp.