5 franchise-altering questions remaining for the Carolina Panthers

What do the Carolina Panthers have in their rookie WRs?

Although the Carolina Panthers have struggled in the passing game overall, there appears to be a real reluctance to utilize the rookie wide receiver duo of Terrace Marshall Jr. and Shi Smith. Two promising players that came into the campaign with some encouraging signs after flashing in the preseason.

Just why the Panthers haven’t integrated both wideouts all that much is a mystery. Smith has been activated rarely throughout the season and Marshall was a surprise healthy scratch for their game at the Miami Dolphins in Week 12 before the team’s bye week.

As a result of their inactivity, Carolina still doesn’t know what they have in either player. This was expected for a sixth-round pick such as Smith, but for Marshall – who was drafted No. 59 overall – it’s been a major disappointment.

This is just a microcosm of how things are developing with the rookie class, which was seen as a real success at the time but has brought little in the way of consistent production. Although much of that has to do with Jaycee Horn missing most of the campaign and Daviyon Nixon’s first season also ending ahead of time thanks to injury.

Marshall and Smith are unlikely to make a huge impression down the stretch based on their limited output so far. It’s therefore vital each player makes the necessary improvements this offseason in pursuit of larger roles in 2022.