Cade Mays Bio
Cade Montgomery Mays is an American professional football center for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Mays developed into a dependable interior lineman through a college career split between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers. He was selected by the Panthers in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has continued to build his professional resume as a starting-caliber center.
Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and listed at 147 kilograms, Mays combines the frame and strength required to anchor an offensive line. His path from a Knoxville Catholic High School standout to a multi-year NFL contributor reflects steady development, position versatility, and durability across multiple league stops.
Early Life and Background
Cade Montgomery Mays was born on April 26, 1999, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He grew up in the same city where he would later return for college and first make his name as a competitive football prospect. Knoxville’s football culture provided an early environment in which the sport was a regular part of family and community life.
Mays attended Knoxville Catholic High School, where he played offensive line and developed the physical tools that would eventually attract major college programs. His high school background laid the foundation for the technical refinements and conditioning habits that followed at the next level. The leap from a private-school program in Tennessee to Southeastern Conference competition signaled how quickly his reputation was growing among recruiters.
Family connections also pointed toward football. Mays has a brother, Cooper, who later played center for Tennessee, reinforcing a household orientation toward the offensive line position and the demands that come with it.
Path to American Football
Coming out of Knoxville Catholic, Mays was rated as one of the more promising interior line prospects in his region. His combination of size, footwork, and finishing strength suited the physical style favored in the Southeastern Conference. Georgia secured his college commitment, opening his path to high-level Division I football.
After two seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs, Mays transferred to the Tennessee Volunteers, where he spent the next two years. The move returned him to his hometown and allowed him to take on a larger offensive role, refining his technique against elite defensive tackles and linebackers. By the end of his Tennessee tenure, Mays had earned recognition as one of the conference’s top linemen, including a Second-team All-SEC selection in 2021.
That recognition, combined with his measurables, placed Mays firmly on NFL radars heading into the 2022 draft cycle. His development under two different SEC coaching staffs, and his experience at both guard and center, gave professional evaluators a clear picture of his positional value.
Cade Mays Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Mays was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round, 199th overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft. He made his NFL debut in Week 7 of that season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then earned his first start in Week 12 against the Denver Broncos. Across his rookie year, he appeared in 11 games and made two starts, learning the speed and complexity of professional pass protections.
In the 2023 season, Mays expanded his role with the Panthers, appearing in 16 games and starting five. The increased workload reflected growing trust from the coaching staff and showed that he had adjusted to the rigors of a full NFL schedule. On August 28, 2024, however, the Panthers released Mays as part of their roster reshuffling.
Carolina Panthers Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Mays’ first stint in Carolina defined his introduction to the NFL. Drafted to provide depth and developmental upside along the offensive line, he was gradually integrated into game plans as a rookie. His ability to play both guard and center gave the Panthers flexibility in their weekly lineup decisions.
By his second season, Mays had become a more consistent presence on the active roster, starting five games while appearing in all 16. The Panthers’ investment in his development was evident in his snap counts and his responsibilities in both run blocking and pass protection. Although his tenure ended with a release in late August 2024, his body of work in Carolina had established him as a viable NFL interior lineman.
New York Giants Era (2024)
Shortly after his release, Mays was signed to the New York Giants practice squad on September 10, 2024. The move offered a fresh opportunity within a different offensive scheme and a chance to refine his craft away from the pressures of an active gameday roster. His time on the Giants practice squad reflected how quickly teams continued to value his positional flexibility.
Mays did not remain with New York for long. On October 8, 2024, he was re-signed by the Carolina Panthers off the Giants practice squad, returning to the franchise that had originally drafted him. The quick turnaround underscored the Panthers’ continued interest in his development.
Carolina Panthers Era (2024–Present)
Back in Carolina for a second stint, Mays rejoined a Panthers organization that had tracked his growth closely. On March 12, 2025, the Panthers placed an original-round tender on Mays, a procedural step that signaled their intent to retain his rights and integrate him into their long-term plans along the offensive line.
The tender reflected both his on-field reliability and the investment Carolina had already made in his development. With continuity of scheme and familiarity with the coaching staff, Mays entered the next phase of his career as a settled piece of the Panthers’ interior line rotation.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mays is recognized for his combination of size, balance, and positional flexibility. At 6 feet 6 inches and 147 kilograms, he brings the anchor strength to hold up against powerful defensive tackles while retaining enough lateral quickness to handle stunts and twists. His experience at both guard and center allows line coaches to deploy him in multiple roles based on weekly matchups.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Mays’ defining career moments are his 2022 NFL Draft selection by the Panthers, his NFL debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and his first career start against the Denver Broncos. His Second-team All-SEC selection in 2021 stands as his most prominent individual college honor, and the Panthers’ 2025 original-round tender marks an important contractual milestone in his professional trajectory.
Cade Mays Career Highlights
Across his professional career, Cade Mays has accumulated meaningful playing time at center and guard, with documented appearances and starts in each of his active NFL seasons. His resume features a sixth-round draft selection, a steady increase in starts from his rookie year to his second season, and continued employment with multiple franchises that have valued his versatility.
NFL Highlights
Mays appeared in 11 games with two starts during his 2022 rookie campaign and followed that with 16 games and five starts in 2023. His first NFL start came in Week 12 of the 2022 season against the Denver Broncos, a milestone that confirmed his readiness for regular offensive responsibilities.
College Highlights
At the collegiate level, Mays spent two seasons each at Georgia and Tennessee, closing his career with a Second-team All-SEC selection in 2021. The recognition underscored his standing as one of the conference’s top interior linemen in his final college season.
Cade Mays Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cade Mays comes from a Knoxville-based family with a clear football connection. His brother, Cooper Mays, also played center for the Tennessee Volunteers, giving the Mays family a notable presence along the offensive line at the collegiate level.
Personal Life
Mays remains closely tied to Knoxville, the city where he was born, raised, and later returned for his college career. Beyond his confirmed family connection to brother Cooper Mays, additional public details about his personal life are limited.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents a pivotal stretch for Cade Mays with the Carolina Panthers. After being re-signed off the New York Giants practice squad in October 2024 and receiving an original-round tender in March 2025, he enters the year with established organizational backing and a clear role within the offensive line room.
Mays’ familiarity with the Panthers’ scheme, built across two separate stints with the franchise, gives him a stabilizing presence heading into the new campaign. His ability to line up at both guard and center continues to provide the coaching staff with valuable lineup flexibility, particularly as they manage depth and matchups along the interior.
Looking ahead, Mays is positioned to compete for a starting role and contribute meaningful snaps as Carolina builds its offensive identity. With health and continued development, his combination of experience, size, and scheme familiarity points toward a season in which he could take on one of his most prominent roles yet at the professional level.