Panthers depth chart focus: High stakes for WR group in 2022
By Dean Jones
D.J. Moore – Carolina Panthers WR
As stated previously, D.J. Moore was the one shining light for the Carolina Panthers in 2021. The former first-round pick once again proved his credentials with a third-straight 1,000-yard receiving season, which is a remarkable accomplishment considering there has been no stability at the quarterback position since he entered the league.
The Panthers recognized Moore’s value and overall importance to their chances of progression this offseason with a new three-year, $61.84 million extension that also included a $19.5 million signing bonus and $41.61 million guaranteed. Locking down another core foundational piece they acquired via the draft.
What’s vital for the Panthers is maximizing Moore’s skill set and finally getting him a dependable signal-caller. Whether that’s Darnold or rookie Matt Corral is up for debate, but the Maryland product has the opportunity to emerge into the elite category of wide receivers across the league once this complex riddle is figured out.
Moore is a premier weapon that the Panthers are fortunate to have. His route running has come on a great deal over the last two seasons and remaining a model of consistency in these troubling circumstances is no mean feat whatsoever.
Hopefully, others can raise their game accordingly and take some pressure off Moore in 2022. But the player will also be striving for yet another exceptional campaign in pursuit of removing the underappreciated tag from the discussion.