5 unheralded Panthers players who could make an impact in 2021
By Dean Jones
Shi Smith – Carolina Panthers WR
The wide receiver room is pretty crowded despite Curtis Samuel leaving in free agency as expected to reunite with Ron Rivera on the Washington Football Team. This inevitability led to some quick decisions from the Carolina Panthers as they look to fill the void left by the former Ohio State sensation.
David Moore is an intriguing player who arrived from the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. Carolina also selected Terrace Marshall Jr. at No. 59 and also managed to get their hands on Shi Smith in the sixth round.
This could represent some substantial value if the South Carolina product reaches the level expected. The Panthers’ coaching staff know exactly what the player can do first-hand after working with him at the 2021 Senior Bowl and he’s followed this up with some eye-catching efforts at rookie minicamp and voluntary OTAs.
Gaining a significant amount of targets will be the first battle for Smith. This will come from a strong training camp and making plays when targets come his way in preseason games.
Smith does his best work out of the slot. He is a sensational route-runner that creates separation quickly with quick-twitch speed and assured ball skills to match.
This is somewhere the Panthers need additional help after Samuel’s departure, so there could be an opportunity for Smith to announce himself on the NFL stage in 2021.