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If the Carolina Panthers had an average quarterback, an average offensive line and an average play caller, how would their weapons fare? ESPN’s Bill Barnwell set out to determine that for each of the league’s supporting casts.
Barnwell, in an admittedly long article from Monday, evaluated and ranked every team’s group of running backs, wide receivers and tight ends. Unfortunately for the Panthers, who spent much of the offseason overhauling their bunch, they sit at No. 31 on the list.
He writes:
The Moore deal helped nab Carolina’s quarterback of the future in Bryce Young, but will he have much to work with in Year 1? Adam Thielen, nominally the No. 1 receiver, is 32 and coming off a season in which he averaged 1.09 yards per route run, which ranked 83rd out of 97 qualifying wideouts. DJ Chark has upside and hit several big plays during a hot stretch in December with the Lions, but the oft-injured wideout just underwent ankle surgery. Rookie second-round pick Jonathan Mingo might end up being Carolina’s top wideout by default as the season goes along, while fellow former second-rounders Terrace Marshall and Laviska Shenault aren’t much more than post-hype sleepers at this point.
While talented, at least according to Thielen, Carolina’s receiving corps does lack a true No. 1 option. Even wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson suggested that his unit is under construction heading into the summer.
But Barnwell is feeling the additions of two other solid veterans:
I’m more optimistic about the additions of Miles Sanders at running back and Hayden Hurst at tight end, but each benefited from being in great offenses a year ago, with Sanders in Philadelphia and Hurst in Cincinnati. With some cap constraints and a barren depth chart after the Moore and McCaffrey trades, new coach Frank Reich & Co. had to fill the roster with viable players to give Young a chance. It’s tough to buy that Carolina won’t be back in the market for more significant help again next March.
Sanders is coming off a career year, one in which he rushed for bests in yards (1,269) and touchdowns (11). Hurst had himself a relatively solid 2022 as well, reeling in 52 receptions for 414 yards—both the second-highest marks of his five-year NFL run.
But, luckily for the Panthers, they don’t have an average quarterback, an average offensive line or an average play caller.
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