Panthers: Devin Funchess primed for breakout 2018 season
Devin Funchess had a great year for the Carolina Panthers in 2017. Now, he’s looking to build off of it.
Whether he thought his time would come now or later, it has arrived. Devin Funchess is the Carolina Panthers’ clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver.
In a way, this makes sense. You could say that the role change for Funchess occurred after trading away Kelvin Benjamin. He was forced into the role following the trade because the Panthers did not have many clear-cut options. Heading into 2018, he looks to continue that role, and work his way to becoming an elite wideout in the NFC South.
Whether he was forced or not, Funchess made the most of his opportunity. The 2017 campaign was the first season in his career that he really showed what he was capable of. The former Michigan Wolverine hauled in 63 catches for 840 yards and eight touchdowns, his best numbers to date. His best game of the season came during the Panthers’ Monday Night Football showdown against the Miami Dolphins. Snagging six passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, his playmaking ability was on full display. Averaging 23.5 yards per catch, he showed that when fully healthy, he could be a dangerous weapon. Perhaps the most exciting part in all this is that he is only 23 years old.
Also noteworthy is the fact that Funchess played through a slew of injuries in 2017. Hamstring, shoulder, and toe injuries all plagued him throughout the course of the season. It is fun to imagine what his numbers would be if he was both the No.1 option in the offense and fully healthy.
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One of the bigger things to take into consideration heading into 2018 is the fact that it is his contract year. He is going to want to perform as best he can to make sure he earns that payday. As Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com noted in a piece published Thursday, the Panthers would be wise to make sure that Funchess stays in Carolina for as long as possible.
As a second-round pick, the Panthers have no way to offer Funchess a fifth-year option at the end of his rookie deal, meaning that the 2015 draftee will become a free agent after the 2018 season. If coach Ron Rivera believes that Funchess is going to be Cam Newton’s top target for years to come, now is the time to offer Funchess an extension.
There are two factors that set him up nicely for a career year. For one, it is his contract year and that the Panthers lack any other reliable deep threat.
With that in mind, what can we expect from Funchess in 2018? 80-plus catches for 1,015 yards and 10 touchdowns sounds like an accurate prediction. This has the potential to be the year that he finally makes the leap in joining the league’s best. An ascension to an elite level would make the Carolina Panthers and their fans very happy.