5 potential Pac-12 opt-outs on Carolina Panthers’ radar in 2021

Carolina Panthers Player No. 2: Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR) – USC

The Carolina Panthers are faced with a tricky predicament regarding Curtis Samuel next spring. If the former Ohio State standout has another solid year of production, he is going to want a substantial pay increase either with the organization or elsewhere.

Samuel may also not want to be a No. 3 wideout for much longer. And given that the Panthers decided not to trade their fastest player during the 2020 NFL Draft. They are now stuck between a rock and a hard place.

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If Carolina ends up losing a prominent playmaker such as Samuel, there are plenty of viable alternatives coming out of college next year. Someone like Amon-Ra St. Brown would be an ideal fit for Joe Brady’s scheme. And he is coming into the uncertain campaign riding on the crest of a wave.

St. Brown was a revelation for USC in 2019. He secured 77 receptions, 1,042 receiving yards and one touchdown for the Trojans. And the player does his damage primarily from the slot.

This would make him an ideal replacement for Samuel if he decides that his future lies away from the Panthers. St. Brown possesses superb hands that make him able to catch the ball well under pressure. And the wideout is also an extremely intelligent route runner.

His ability to impact the game in a variety of different ways is something that will ensure St. Brown is a hot commodity during the 2021 evaluation process. And if the Pac-12 players go through with their threat to boycott, then it shouldn’t deter any NFL team from looking long and hard in the receiver’s direction.