3 reasons Panthers WR group can become NFL’s best in 2021
By Dean Jones
The rookie impact
Although it wasn’t a position of need for the Carolina Panthers heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, it didn’t stop those in power from selecting a couple of exciting college prospects who could make an immediate impact on the field.
Carolina ended up taking Terrace Marshall Jr. at No. 59 overall after trading down in the second round. This clearly matched Scott Fitterer’s best player available mentality, with the influence of Joe Brady also playing a huge contributing factor in the decision.
Marshall worked with Brady at LSU during their historic national championship-winning campaign in 2019. He is a big-bodied receiver that has explosiveness and strength in equal measure, so providing his recovery from injury is a smooth one, there is plenty of reasons to be encouraged.
Perhaps a season similar to Marshall’s former teammate Justin Jefferson on the Minnesota Vikings during his rookie year in 2020 is pushing it. But that should not detract from what an important piece of the puzzle the player could become early in his career.
One cannot overlook the Panthers deciding to bring Shi Smith into the fold, either. The sixth-round pick enjoyed a standout college career at South Carolina and has certainly looked the part during voluntary OTAs and rookie minicamp so far.
If Smith can come in and be of use – especially from the slot – then it’s another dimension to Carolina’s passing attack that opposing defenses might not see coming.