One surprise player to make the Panthers roster at every position

Omar Bayless – Carolina Panthers WR

There was a great sense of anticipation regarding Omar Bayless returning to the set-up after missing the entire 2020 season through injury. The undrafted free agent turned out to be one of the real stars of last year’s training camp before a major complication denied him a roster spot.

Bayless has picked up where he left off, make no mistake about that. The wide receiver looks like he’s never been away, producing plenty of memorable catches during drills to stake his claim once again.

Getting Bayless involved early and often during the preseason is of real importance for the Carolina Panthers. His ball skills and ability to create separation have really caught the eye so far, but putting all this together in an on-field situation against unfamiliar opposition is the next step he needs to make successfully.

It’s easy to forget that Bayless was one of college football’s most dynamic players in 2019 at Arkansas State, recording 93 receptions for 1,653 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns, which still wasn’t enough for the wideout to hear his name called during the draft.

Carolina is loaded at wide receiver, so roster spots are at a premium. However, if Bayless can make a big play or two during the warmup games, then the Panthers will think long and hard about keeping him in their plans.