Every year across the NFL there are players that seemingly come out of nowhere to land a roster spot, while veterans become surprise cuts to make room for them. This year will be no different.

Here is a look at each player’s chances of making the Carolina Panthers’ initial 53-man roster for the 2017 season.

The untouchables: 100% chance

Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, Kawann Short, Ryan Kalil, Andrew Norwell, Trai Turner, Greg Olsen

These are all core players that are invaluable to the team’s success. They are priceless pieces that will not be going anywhere this year.

The early-round rookies: 100% chance

Christian McCaffrey, Taylor Moton, Curtis Samuel

McCaffrey is the headliner of this year’s rookie class. The rookie running back will be a sure-fire complement to Jonathan Stewart. As for the others, Moton may start at right tackle year, depending on the Michael Oher situation. Curtis Samuel looks to replace Ted Ginn Jr. both as a slot receiver and as a punt returner as well, which makes him a lock.

Building blocks: 100% chance

James Bradberry, Daryl Worley, Shaq Thompson, Daeshon Hall, Vernon Butler

Cornerback Bradberry had a fantastic rookie campaign and Worley was not terribly far behind him. Thompson will have to learn to settle in at both linebacker spots this season as he prepares to permanently replace Thomas Davis. Hall was drafted in the third round and will likely have a red-shirt year unless the defensive line suffers a lot of injuries. Butler will be entering his second year after a fair rookie year. He blocked two field goals during the season but needs to be more consistent.

Indispensable veterans: 95% chance

Thomas Davis, Jonathan Stewart, DE Charles Johnson, Mario Addison, Captain Munnerlyn, Mike Adams, Andy Lee, Julius Peppers

Davis may be aging with declining skills and the hankering for a new contract, but he remains a key cog in the Panthers organization nonetheless. Stewarts’ eventual replacement has arrived, but the forecast looks like we will have at least one or two more good years of ground-and-pound offense with Stewart leading the charge.

Johnson may no longer be the force he was opposite Greg Hardy, but he will remain a starter on the defense until his contract runs out. Addison had his breakout year in 2016 and was paid handsomely for it. Munnerlyn has returned home as he said he always would, and the fans are more than happy to have him back. Adams is 36 but he will probably play Roman Harper’s old role the next two years.

Contract Keepers: 90-95% chance

Star Lotulelei, Kurt Coleman, Matt Kalil, Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess

Regardless of how they perform, these players will not be let go because it would cost the team too much.

Lotulelei, if released, would carry a dead cap of $6,757,000. Coleman is signed through 2019, and would carry $3,750,000 in dead money if released. Kalil’s contract would carry a $13,000,000 cap hit if released.

Benjamin and Funchess make this category for a lack of better place to put them. Regardless of their impacts this season, their respective $2,438,625 and $1,505,697 cap hits will keep them around a while longer.

Important depth players: 80-90% chance

David Mayo, Derek Anderson, Joe Webb, Kyle Love

Mayo is probably the only backup linebacker guaranteed a position this year. He can play all three spots and will function in A.J. Klein’s former role. Anderson is an aging backup who had his worst statistical season as a Panther last year, but he has been reliable in the past. Webb is a swiss army knife that will never be a true number two quarterback, thus assuring Anderson’s spot. Love is the only 1-tech on the roster besides Star and doesn’t cost much.

Young Panthers with potential: 70-80% chance

Corn Elder, Dean Marlowe, Russell Shepard, Daryl Williams, Tyler Larsen,

Elder was picked in the fifth round of the 2017 draft and projects to backup Munnerlyn at nickel and be heavily involved on special teams. Unless he gets hurt or falls far short of expectations his chances are strong.

Marlowe has been a Carolina coaching favorite for two years, but he’s been held back due to injuries. If he can stay healthy his spot is secure.

Shepard has shown flashes so far this offseason, but we have yet to see how he will do with pads on.

Williams filled in for injured starters last season and showed promise – it will be an interesting battle during training camp for him against Taylor Moton.

Finally, Larsen was thrown into the fire just weeks after being signed due to an injury to Ryan Kalil. He performed amicably after an injury to backup Gino Gradkowski, and is much younger. That provides great depth at an important position.

High bubble: 50-65% chance

Jeremy Cash, Cameron Artis-Payne, Ed Dickson, Ryan Delaire, Gino Gradkowski, Wes Horton, Chris Scott, Amini Silatolu, Fozzy Whittaker, Teddy Williams, Colin Jones, Jared Norris, Darrel Young, Harrison Butker, Graham Gano, WR Charles Johnson, Ben Jacobs

This group could go either way, depending on how they perform during training camp and the preseason.

Cash is a second year safety-turned-linebacker that has done well on special teams. He has bulked up to the right size and will be fully unleashed in the preseason.

Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whittaker are now in direct competition for the third running back spot on the roster. Artis-Payne may have the edge due to his skillset being more similar to Stewart’s, but Whittaker just got a shiny new contract, so it could go either way.

Williams is a speedster that plays mostly on special teams, like Jones. Both are also fairweather backups that can easily be replaced by a player than can one of those better.

Norris quietly came out of nowhere and took the last linebacker spot but he has more competition this time around.

Young is an experienced fullback that has some Mike Tolbert in him.

At kicker, Butker vs. Gano will probably decide who gets the roster spot, but don’t be shocked if Dave Gettleman ultimately signs and starts someone who is currently a free agent.

There are a limited amount of spots available for receivers, and Johnson seems eerily similar to Tiquan Underwood. Jacobs is a decent backup linebacker who will have promising UDFA Ben Boulware gunning for his spot.

Low bubble: 25-45% chance

Bryan Cox Jr., Austin Duke, Damiere Byrd, Ben Boulware, Eric Crume, Travell Dixon, Keyarris Garrett, Zack Sanchez, Jalen Simmons, Scott Simonson, David Yankey, Alex Armah, Brenton Bersin

These are names to watch for when Carolina’s preseason games begin in August. They’re the ones who the Panthers will be evaluating most as they try to round out the bottom of their roster and practice squad.

Cox Jr. is another UDFA that has more potential than your average undrafted rookie and has the benefit of being a second-generation player. Duke has shown enough flashes so far to warrant being listed above the rest of his colleagues. Byrd is a fan favorite that is most likely the fastest player on the team. He has assured me multiple times that his 4.22 forty was machine timed. Boulware is a highly accoladed linebacker out of Clemson. Many question if his size will prevent his success in the NFL, though.

Bersin will somehow, as he always does, squeak onto the roster.

Camp bodies: 24% chance or less

Zeek Bigger, Blaine Clausell, Kaelin Clay, Dan France, Moze Frazier, Garrett Gilbert, Wyatt Houson, Toby Johnson, Cole Luke, Chris Manhertz, Gabriel Mass, L.J. McCray, Zach Moore, Cameron Posey, Jeff Richards, Fred Ross, Dezmen Southward, Tyrus Thompson, Eric Wallace, Michael Palardy, Larry Webster

Most likely somebody’s going to have to get injured for these guys to retain a spot, but the league does have a 100 percent injury rate.