After a terrible 2–15 season in Carolina, it’s obvious the Panthers need some help at Bank of America Stadium.
The fact is that as the NFL offseason approaches, every single franchise has needs. However, compared to the typical team, the Panthers have much more obvious flaws to attend to, and the wide receiver position is specifically in desperate need of attention.
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Carolina Panthers WR Complications & Off-Season Expectations
Source: fieldgulls.com
To protect second-year quarterback Bryce Young, the Panthers must arm him with capable receivers. Though Adam Thielen had a breakout season with over a thousand yards and 100 receptions, Young’s debut year was otherwise unremarkable.
In his first season, fellow 2023 draft selection Jonathan Mingo failed to establish a rhythm or score a touchdown. It will be intriguing to see the use of last year’s second-round selection under the new leadership.
This summer, the Panthers will likely be quite proactive in addressing this WR issue, what with DJ Chark, Laviska Shenault Jr., and Terrace Marshall Jr. all approaching free agency with the future of Marshall Jr. being questionable. The top upcoming free agents at the position, Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals, are linked to Canales; however, neither may be certain to be available with a franchise tag.
The Panthers may try to bolster their receiving corps by signing numerous players if neither can enter free agency. Morgan was in Buffalo when the Bills picked Gabe Davis, and Rob Moore, the new coach of wide receivers, had four years of experience with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in Tennessee. While Westbrook and Ikhine would provide depth and competition for Mingo, Davis might be seen as a long-term X and a significant boost in the red zone.
Additionally, the club will likely address the WR position imperatively at the draft, as those approaching North Carolina Betting Apps ahead of the ’24 Draft would likely select the Panthers’ first pick to be a wide receiver.
Carolina free agent WR targets
Thankfully, after roster cutbacks for salary budget relief in 2024, the Panthers should have a very deep and promising free agency class of wide receivers to choose from. To strengthen the unit surrounding Bryce Young, the team may pursue a variety of free agents, including some who are just entering the league and some more romantic, experienced prospects.
Here are a few of the best and most practical choices the Panthers could sign.
Ray-Ray McCloud (49ers)
Source: ninerswire.usatoday.com
Adding skill at wide receiver is an obvious necessity for the Carolina Panthers. While their focus should be on Tee Higgins, they’ll benefit from having enthusiastic supplementary pass catchers on the team. The Panthers often lacked energy in 2023, but Ray-Ray McCloud could fill such a void.
Even though McCloud hasn’t been a reliable wide receiver on every down, he has a track record of being a good motion guy who can earn phony touches on jet sweeps and throw-off defenses. With only fifteen percent of their plays including motion, the Panthers ranked twenty-fifth in the NFL. These days, the dynamic offensive wouldn’t be complete without movement, and McCloud can provide the Panthers his expertise in handling high-velocity situations.
Marquise Brown (Cardinals)
The Cardinals failed to agree on a contract extension with Brown before the season; Hence, he will become a free agent in the spring.
Sure, Brown has had some absences in the last two seasons, but he has exceptional skills as a wide receiver in top form. He can create explosive plays while fulfilling the role of a receiver who mostly operates in a limited area for the Cardinals. His addition would provide a crucial boost of velocity and dynamism to the offensive capabilities of the Panthers.
Tee Higgins (Bengals)
Source: titanswire.usatoday.com
As far as we can tell, Higgins is the best candidate. There is interest in him since the Panthers allegedly attempted to acquire him around the trade deadline. It may be difficult for the Bengals to include Higgins in their salary projections because of the large contracts that Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase have coming up.
Higgins is a large-bodied receiver who had two seasons before his injury-plagued 2023 season in which he caught more than 1,000 yards and scored six touchdowns. He is a great match for the Panthers’ youthful lineup and is one of the youngest targets.
