6 wide receivers the Carolina Panthers must consider in 2022 free agency

Carolina Panthers must consider T.Y. Hilton

2021 stats (Indianapolis Colts):

• 23 receptions
• 331 receiving yards
• 3 touchdowns

T.Y. Hilton is a player that I often found myself asking, “where are they?” over the last couple of seasons. A lot of this could be due to who exactly was throwing him the football after the shock retirement of Andrew Luck left the Indianapolis Colts scrambling for a replacement they haven’t quite found.

However, there is still evident talent there even at 32 years old.

Yes, Hilton is coming off his worst year as a pro and that has to be concerning. This also means the price should be more than right should the Colts not re-sign him or he retires.

While 5-foot-10 is nowhere near the size that the Carolina Panthers need, Hilton would bring other things to the team. Namely a consistent veteran presence for whoever is slinging the ball.

Even with that diminutive stature, Hilton has never played to his size and shows a supreme toughness with the ball in his hands that catches defenders off guard.

The combination of low risk, low price, and the potential high upside is something a team like the Panthers may find all too appealing should other options prove too costly. Especially when one considers the four straight Pro Bowl selections during the meat of his career.

Hilton is what he is at this stage in his career. That is a player much like D.J. Moore in terms of role but having a mentor like the former Colt superstar is nothing to sniff at.