5 players the Panthers could have drafted instead of Greg Little
By Dean Jones
D.K. Metcalf – WR
Can you imagine what the Carolina Panthers’ offense would look like with D.K. Metcalf at wide receiver. Granted, Robby Anderson probably wouldn’t be around. But putting the imposing wideout within a unit that includes D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel would have been almost unstoppable.
It seems unfathomable that Metcalf wasn’t selected until the final pick of the second round in 2019 by the Seattle Seahawks. He is one of the most physically dominant forces in the NFL and when he is firing on all cylinders there are few – if any – cornerbacks who can cope with his supreme threat.
Every team that passed on Metcalf is probably kicking themselves right about now.
Including the Panthers.
Metcalf has been compared to Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson such has been his influence this season. While he isn’t on Megatron’s level just yet. But there is nothing to suggest he cannot reach these heights with more experience under his belt in the coming years.
The wideout has 121 receptions, 2,019 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns during his brief career so far. Metcalf is averaging a lofty 16.7 yards-per-reception, is bringing in 61.1 percent of targets thrown his way, and has 573 yards after contact to further enhance his overall promise.
If the draft were done again, Metcalf would be a first-round pick. He has already surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in 2020 and his star is only going to grow moving forward.