4 Panthers players on the roster bubble after the 2021 NFL Draft

Keith Kirkwood – Carolina Panthers WR

Much like the situation with Trenton Scott, it was a surprise to see Keith Kirkwood given a one-year extension by the Carolina Panthers in 2021. The wide receiver endured a torrid time with injuries that restricted the player to just one game and although he is familiar with the scheme run by Joe Brady from their time together at the New Orleans Saints, he now has his work cut out making the 53-man roster.

The Panthers drafted both Terrace Marshall Jr. and Shi Smith, who could offer a considerable amount from the word go. If the rookies light it up during training camp then it might see a couple of veterans sacrificed to give the two potential stars more of an opportunity during their first season in the pros.

Kirkwood had a fantastic opportunity midway through the season when he returned to the lineup. He did look the part for the brief time he was on the field before the injury bug struck again, so even though the Panthers are clearly willing to give the player another shot, there are so many options now it’s hard to look at his prospects with any sort of confidence.

Players can approach this in two ways. Either they rise to the challenge or wilt under the pressure with so much on the line. What category Kirkwood ends up in remains to be seen.