Entering the 2024 campaign, the Carolina Chaos, led by head coach and general manager Andy Towers, had a mission of evolving from a Canadian-style two-man game offense to a two-handed dodging team. 

The easiest way to explain how the change worked is, it didn’t. The offense crashed and burned throughout the season, and the struggles were fully encapsulated in the Cash App Playoff semifinals when the Chaos scored just one goal in their loss to the eventual champion Utah Archers. 

To prevent a similar end to the 2025 season, the Chaos need to evolve across all three phases to return to championship glory. Let’s take a look at each phase:

Offense

Signed: A Josh Byrne (through 2026), A Ross Scott (2026), M Eric Dobson (2026), M Shane Knobloch (2026), A/M Brayden Mayea (2025), A Tye Kurtz (2025), A/M Brian Minicus (2025)

Expiring contracts: A/M Jules Heningburg, M Kyle Jackson, M Sergio Perkovic 

It wasn’t a pretty year for Carolina's offense, to say the least. However, the prospect of a second season of Scott at X and the ever-potent Byrne returning are exciting for 2025. The Chaos will need 2024 first- and second-rounders Knobloch and Dobson to take strides in the offseason, as they’re expected to become bigger pieces of the offense in their second pro campaign. 

Veterans Heningburg and Perkovic were signed to one-year deals in the spring, and those expire this offseason, leaving holes in the roster. 

Perkovic started hot, but a lower-body injury in Charlotte sidelined him for the middle third of the season. After returning, the range shooter didn’t have the same effect on offense.

Heningburg was brought to Carolina to be an attackman, but toward the end of the season, he saw his role shift to the midfield. A major selling point for the four-time All-Star joining the Chaos was his ability to play attack, and now that that doesn’t seem like an option for Heningburg, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he departs. 

On the flip, it also wouldn’t be a shock to see Heningburg sign another one-year deal if he believes the Chaos can be title contenders in 2025. The 28-year-old has played seven seasons of professional lacrosse, and the one thing he hasn’t done is win a championship.

“I'm just excited for a fresh start and for me to help a team compete for a championship. As you get older, it is the most important thing. Winning is everything,” Heningburg said after signing with Carolina in March. 

Jackson’s contract is also at its end. He provided consistent scoring throughout the season and was a key leader for the young offense. The two-time champion serves as a Ryan Ambler of sorts for the Chaos because he’s not afraid to do the dirty work across the field to help the offense succeed. 

Coach Towers will likely have a one-year deal on the table for Jackson. 

Defense

Signed: G Blaze Riorden (through 2026), D Jack Rowlett (2026), D Will Bowen (2025), SSDM Ian MacKay (2025), LSM Troy Reh (2025), D Jack Posey (2025)

Expiring contracts: D Jarrod Neumann, SSDM Zach Geddes, SSDM Patrick Resch, LSM Ryan McNulty, LSM CJ Costabile, G Austin Kaut, SSDM Mark Glicini

On the defensive side, there were hoards of positives this season. The close unit was ultra-efficient, and Riorden was his usual unbelievable self in cage, winning his fifth Oren Lyons Goalie of the Year Award in six seasons.

2024 All-Stars Neumann and Geddes are the two biggest names among the pending free agents for the Chaos on defense. 

Geddes is paramount for the Chaos clear game, and Neumann’s world-class defensive prowess on left-handed attackmen allows Rowlett and Bowen to have the success they have in their matchups. Carolina essentially has a 1A, 1B and 1C in the close defense room when the three are on the field together. 

I expect long-term extensions – through 2026 or 2027 – for Neumann and Geddes in the coming months. 

Costabile (34 years old), Resch (33) and Glicini (31) are interesting cases for the Chaos. 

Towers challenged Costabile to make the team out of camp by bringing Roy Meyer and Posey in as undrafted rookies. The 13-year veteran did enough to make the 25-man roster, but maintaining everyday status on the 19-man roster was a challenge. 

Costabile is in the latter stages of his career and played five regular-season games in 2024. The former second-team All-Pro long-stick midfielder didn’t look bad in the games he played, but as the league continues to grow and younger, more athletic players filter into lineups, it will be harder for the savvy vet to keep up. 

Costabile may retire in the coming months, or Towers could sign him to a one-year deal and force him to make the team out of camp again. 

Short-stick defensive midfield is the hardest position to play in lacrosse outside of goalie, and that’s the job Resch and Glicini have for the Chaos. Glicini played in one game in 2024 after MacKay was suspended for punching Whipsnakes goalie Brendan Krebs. Glicini is a captain on the Chaos, and his role tends to be more prominent off the field than on it. 

It will be a toss-up for Glicini to be re-signed with the emergence of Riorden, Neumann and Byrne as captains throughout the season. 

Resch, the son of Archers Hall of Fame defensive coordinator Tony Resch, is a key component in the Chaos SSDM room. The 10-year pro has played every game for Carolina over the last three regular seasons and is an under-the-radar leader on the squad. Resch hasn’t made his intentions for the 2025 season clear, but re-signing the longtime Chaos vet to a one-year deal isn’t a bad option for Towers. 

Kaut was massive this season for Carolina with Riorden missing multiple games. Kaut should be re-signed quickly like Geddes and Neumann.

McNulty is the last guy on defense who is up in the air. He wasn’t an every-game player for Carolina, and there are a plethora of current collegiate seniors who could come in and take his job. 

Faceoff

Signed: Nick Rowlett (through 2025)

Expiring contract: James Reilly

With Rowlett signed through next season, I don’t foresee Towers offering Reilly a long-term deal of any kind. However, Towers may give Reilly a chance to challenge Rowlett for the starting job in training camp, as he did this past summer.

Rowlett struggled this season, winning just 37% of his draws. That mark ranked last in the league among players with at least 50 faceoffs taken. 

The Chaos have other needs in the 2025 College Draft, but they could look to find a new contender for the faceoff job, like Notre Dame’s Will Lynch or Army’s Will Coletti. 

Way-too-early Chaos mock draft:

Round 1, Pick 5: Sam English (Midfield - Syracuse/Princeton)

Round 2, Pick 13: Jake Taylor (Attack - Notre Dame)/Mike Grace (D/LSM - Syracuse/RIT)

Round 3, Pick 21: Patrick Hackler (Midfield/SSDM - Johns Hopkins/Yale)

Round 4, Pick 29: Will Lynch (Faceoff - Notre Dame)

The Chaos need help on offense, hence the reason for English and Taylor in Rounds 1 and 2. English fits the mold of speed dodging in the midfield, and Taylor is the best inside finisher in the country. Both could help a Carolina team that scored the fewest points in the PLL this season. 

If Taylor is unavailable, Grace could be a steal to replace McNulty and Costabile if they aren’t re-signed.

In Rounds 3 and 4, Carolina will need to account for its aging SSDM room and lack of midfield depth. Hackler can become a Brian Tevlin-esque player in the league and can plug and play on both sides of the field. Lynch has gotten better each year in South Bend and could challenge Rowlett for the starting job on Day 1 if drafted.