Grading Panthers position groups on offense after the 2021 draft

Carolina Panthers WRs

Wide Receiver may have also been considered a rich position for the Carolina Panthers. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be made better and that’s just what the team went out and did.

Even with the loss of Curtis Samuel in free agency the receiver room was still absolutely stacked heading into the draft weekend with two 1,000-yard wideouts in D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson and the offseason addition of deep threat master David Moore from the Seattle Seahawks.

That’s not to mention the undrafted free agents the team has snatched up. Omar Bayless was coming off a 1,600-yard season with Arkansas State and is a bit of an unknown after missing the entire 2020 season on injured reserve. While Micah Simon showed off blazing speed at BYU’s pro day, running a 4.34-second 40-yard dash which is just the kind of speed you want for a turn and burn deep threat or return specialist.

With this core of elusive yards-after-catch specialists, the only thing the Panthers were missing was a big-bodied red zone target, something the team hasn’t had since the failed experiment that was Kelvin Benjamin and the later departure of his running mate Devin Funchess. That was rectified in the second round when LSU star Terrace Marshal Jr. surprisingly fell into the team’s lap.

While his star was dimmed somewhat by the emergence and subsequent departure of both Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow, Marshal Jr. showed an innate ability to thrive in a secondary role and feast on No. 2 corners. His mix of route running, size, and elusiveness is rare and something that could make him a star at the next level if he can take the necessary steps.

Another thing Marshall Jr. was very good at was catching touchdowns. Using his big body to get open or simply catch balls above defenders in the end zone as evidenced by his 10 touchdowns in 2020, more than Moore and Anderson had combined.

But let’s not forget about Shi Smith, a guy taken at a place in the draft that tends to be forgotten but can produce quality players. The Gamecock standout plays like a big receiver in a small frame much like a certain other receiver named Smith that played for the Panthers.

With the tenacity he plays the game with and the amazing hands he’s flashed, Smith could be just the replacement Carolina needs for Samuel.

Grade A+

The Panthers had one hole to fill in their receiver room and they couldn’t have done better with how the draft fell to them. They shouldn’t have to think about issues with this group for a good while. With YAC speedsters and a big-bodied red zone threat, there are no real holes left in this group.