Caelen Carson

Caelen Carson
No. 41 – Carolina Panthers
PositionCornerback
Roster status
Practice squad
Personal information
Born (2002-03-03) March 3, 2002 (age 24)
Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.
Listed height
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight
198 lb (90 kg)
Career information
High schoolNorth Point (Waldorf)
CollegeWake Forest (2020–2023)
NFL draft2024: 5th round, 174th overall pick
Career history
* Offseason or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics as of Week 3, 2026
Total tackles45
Pass deflections6
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Caelen Carson (born March 3, 2002) is an American professional football cornerback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. He previously played for the Dallas Cowboys.

Early life

Carson attended North Point High School in Waldorf, Maryland, where he was a wide receiver and a cornerback on the football team. He helped them reach the Maryland 4A state championship, while they had a 13-1 record. Carson was a first team All-Southern Maryland selection.

College recruiting
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Caelen Carson
CB		 Waldorf, MD North Point 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jun 5, 2019 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 3/5 stars   Rivals: 2/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   
Overall recruit ranking:    Rivals: Unranked    247Sports: 1725    ESPN: Unranked
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

College career

Carson played in all but one game his freshman year at Wake Forest University, and tallied up 25 tackles, a forced fumble, and one interception. He got his first interception of his career against Virginia. In 2021, he played every game up until a 58-55 loss to North Carolina, where he went down with an injury, and missed the rest of the season. He ended 2021 with 31 tackles, 2 interceptions, and a fumble recovery. 2022 was also hammered by injuries for Carson, as he injured his leg against Liberty on September 9, and didn't see the field until the Demon Deacons faced Louisville. He finished 2022 with 21 tackles, and no interceptions. He played in 11 out of 12 games in his redshirt junior year, and ended up with 42 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. After the season, he accepted an invite to the 2024 Senior Bowl. He also was invited for the NFL Combine.

College statistics

Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
Solo Asst. Tot. Sacks FF FR Int. Yds. Avg. TD
2020Wake Forest 8 19 6 25 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
2021Wake Forest 9 26 5 31 0 0 1 2 30 15.0 0
2022Wake Forest 8 17 4 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Wake Forest 11 29 13 42 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
Total 36 91 28 119 0 2 2 3 30 10.0 0

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard splitVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 11+7⁄8 in
(1.83 m)		199 lb
(90 kg)		31+3⁄8 in
(0.80 m)		8+1⁄4 in
(0.21 m)		6 ft 3+5⁄8 in
(1.92 m)		4.53 s1.54 s2.59 s35.5 in
(0.90 m)		9 ft 6 in
(2.90 m)		6 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day

Dallas Cowboys

Carson was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 174th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft. In Week 1, he was named the starting cornerback. In the 2024 season, Carson played six games, starting in five, and recorded 27 tackles and four pass deflections. Carson began the 2025 season on injured reserve after suffering a hyperextended knee in training camp. He was activated on October 18, 2025, ahead of the team's Week 7 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Throughout the season, Carson played 8 games, starting in three, and recorded 17 tackles and two pass deflections.

In the 2026 season, Carson played in three games before being waived on October 20, 2026.

Carolina Panthers

On October 30, 2026, Carson was signed to the Carolina Panthers' practice squad.

References

  1. ↑ "Caelen Carson - Football". Wake Forest University Athletics. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Caelen Carson 2020 Stats per Game - NCAAF". ESPN. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  3. ↑ Haas, Hunter (June 29, 2023). "2024 NFL Draft: Caelen Carson Is Name To Watch At Cornerback". NFL Mocks. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Caelen Carson 2021 Stats per Game - NCAAF". ESPN. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  5. ↑ Thamel, Pete (September 24, 2022). "Wake Forest CB Carson considered week-to-week". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Caelen Carson 2022 Stats per Game - NCAAF". ESPN. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Caelen Carson 2023 Stats per Game - NCAAF". ESPN. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  8. ↑ "NFL.com's prospects who could rise at Senior Bowl". Giants.com. January 30, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  9. ↑ Dell, John (February 21, 2024). "Wake Forest notebook: Defensive backs Carson, Mustapha invited to NFL Combine". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  10. ↑ Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Caelen Carson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  11. ↑ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Caelen Carson College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  12. ↑ Halprin, David (April 27, 2024). "NFL Draft results 2024: Dallas Cowboys select CB Caelen Carson with the 174th pick". Blogging The Boys. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Cowboys activate CB Caelen Carson". nbcsports.com. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  14. ↑ Yarrish, Tommy (October 20, 2026). "Cowboys sign S Juanyeh Thomas to active roster, waive CB Caelen Carson". DallasCowboys.com.
  15. ↑ Gantt, Darin (October 30, 2026). "Panthers add another cornerback to practice squad". Panthers.com.