5 secret weapons at the Carolina Panthers’ disposal in 2021

Shi Smith – Carolina Panthers WR

Shi Smith is no stranger to the area having played his college football at South Carolina. So there won’t be many fans surprised if the wide receiver makes a telling contribution as a rookie.

The Carolina Panthers obviously saw something in Smith both on film and during their time working with him at the 2021 Senior Bowl. Getting him in the sixth round was a no-brainer and if he makes his presence felt at training camp, expect some involvement despite the strong weapons elsewhere in the passing game.

Smith has some likable traits, and wideouts tend to make a smoother transition than most other positions in terms of immediate impact. Carolina lost Curtis Samuel to the Washington Football Team in free agency, so they’ll need someone else to become a dependable target in key situations and especially out of the slot.

This is an area of the field where Smith does his best work. He has a tremendous ability to create separation quickly and has impressive ball skills that can be of use for good measure.

As stated previously, the Panthers have some outstanding weapons in the passing game despite Samuel taking his chances elsewhere. This should result in plenty of one-on-one opportunities for Smith and second-round selection Terrace Marshall Jr. throughout the campaign.