5 players the Panthers could have drafted instead of Greg Little

A.J. Brown – WR

Another physically dominant wide receiver that went after Greg Little in the second round was A.J. Brown. The players have developed a real nous for making big plays at crucial moments and the sky is the limit if he can rid himself of the injury problems that have hampered his progress at times this season.

Again, adding Brown to a wideout corps of D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel is a mouth-watering prospect that never came to pass. He has already accumulated 96 receptions, 1,776 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns from just 26 games – 19 of which he’s started.

Brown’s ability to stretch the field has been a standout feature of his overall production, which is further reflected in his 18.5 yards-per-reception average. He is athletic enough to grab the ball at its highest point and also likes nothing more than getting physical both on the line of scrimmage and during contested catches.

The former Mississippi sensation eventually went No. 51 overall to the Tennessee Titans in 2019. Mike Vrabel’s men might be a run-first operation with Derrick Henry in the backfield. But that does not detract from what a vital part of their plans Brown is both for their expected playoff push this season and beyond.