Grading the Carolina Panthers’ last 5 first-round draft picks
By Dean Jones
D.J. Moore – Carolina Panthers WR
- No. 24 overall selection
It’s been pretty cool to see D.J. Moore develop into the game-changing wide receiver we see today. His electrifying stint at Maryland resulted in the Carolina Panthers bringing him on board relatively late in the first round, which proved to be a smart move by those in power at the time based on his production so far.
Moore certainly caught the eye on a rotational basis as a rookie. This was a solid platform from which to build, which the wideout has done impressively with every passing season.
His route running continues to develop in an encouraging fashion and the fact Moore has gone over 1,000 receiving yards in three consecutive campaigns despite some less than stellar production under center is a testament to how much ability he has.
There’s just no telling how much better Moore can become once the Panthers get it right at quarterback. The organization made sure to keep the receiver around in the event of such an eventuality thanks to a four-year extension that is a just reward for his ever-growing influence.
Pick Grade: A+
Finding key contributors later in the first round can be something of a crapshoot more often than not. But once again, the Panthers deserve a substantial amount of credit for taking a chance on Moore and his exceptional skill set.