5 under-the-radar prospects Panthers should watch at 2022 combine

Carolina Panthers should watch Tré Turner

Getting more consistency in the passing game doesn’t just apply to the quarterback. Outside of D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey when healthy, the Carolina Panthers didn’t have enough genuine quality thanks to individual struggles, a basic offensive scheme, and the obvious complications with whoever was under center.

Hopefully, Robby Anderson and Terrace Marshall Jr. can get more involved in Ben McAdoo’s system. There also remains hope that sixth-rounder Shi Smith can make a significant leap in Year 2 of his professional career.

It might be worth the Panthers looking to the college ranks for another weapon. And it’s hard to look at Tré Turner’s dynamic skill set and not think he’s going to be a huge hit at the next level.

The Virginia Tech product is a smooth route-runner, elusive off the line of scrimmage, and makes his targets count with outstanding ball skills. Turner was born to play the receiver position and has a swagger that the Panthers were sorely lacking at times in 2021.

Turner could do with bulking up a little once he gets to the NFL. But this could be the option across the middle Carolina’s been searching for since Curtis Samuel departed in free agency last year.

One obstacle is Carolina doesn’t possess a Day 2 pick right now, which is where Turner is projected to go. If those in power like what they see at the Scouting Combine, expect that to change.