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With six games remaining in the regular season, it's obvious one of the Carolina Panthers' most pressing offseason needs will be to significantly upgrade the receiver position.
The Panthers are experiencing what has been a recurring problem over the past five years - the lack of a stellar No.2 receiver to pair with four-time Pro Bowler Steve Smith.
As a result, Smith is facing near-constant double teams.
Much of the blame for a lackluster passing game has been pinned on quarterback Jake Delhomme (14interceptions), but there's no dismissing the receiver issue either.
Smith is the only non-tight end who's caught a touchdown pass.
The Panthers' inability to fill the receiver need with a lasting solution is puzzling considering how well the front office has managed to come up with long-term solutions at many other positions over the years:
They drafted Thomas Davis in 2005, which eased outside linebacker Will Witherspoon's departure via free agency the following year.
As running backs Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster were phased out, the team first whiffed on Eric Shelton ('05), then hit it big with first-round picks DeAngelo Williams ('06) and Jonathan Stewart ('08).
With Dan Morgan injury-prone at middle linebacker, the Panthers drafted Jon Beason in '07.
During the '07 training camp, they desperately needed a safety and traded with Chicago to acquire Chris Harris.
Facing an early-season crisis at defensive tackle this year, they upgraded by signing Hollis Thomas and trading for Tank Tyler.
However, the No.2 receiver spot has been troublesome since Muhsin Muhammad left after the 2004 season to sign with Chicago.
One of the big reasons for the void is the fact that the Panthers' draft picks at the position haven't excelled.
In the 2004 draft, less than a year before Muhammad departed, the Panthers picked Keary Colbert in the second round and Drew Carter in the fifth. Carter had some nice moments as a deep threat but battled injuries and never evolved into a well-rounded receiver. Colbert fizzled after his rookie year.
Both are out of the league.
In '06, the Panthers experimented with veteran Keyshawn Johnson, with mixed results. He was around one year and retired for a TV job.
In '07, the Panthers used a second-round pick on Dwayne Jarrett, who like Colbert played at Southern Cal.
If Jarrett had developed as expected, he'd be the No.2 receiver the Panthers so desperately need.
However, his progress has been slow. Though he excels at times during practice, his impact in games has been limited.
Of the 17 receivers picked during the first three rounds of the '07 draft, Jarrett is one of only two who hasn't caught a touchdown pass. He has 26 career receptions for 277 yards.
By the time Carolina picked Jarrett 45th overall in '07, most of the top receivers were off the board, but the Panthers narrowly missed having a chance to draft one and passed on another.
One spot before the Panthers chose Jarrett, Minnesota picked South Carolina's Sidney Rice, who is thriving this season with Brett Favre at quarterback and has 12 career touchdowns.
When the Panthers took Jarrett, they bypassed another Southern Cal receiver, the "other" Steve Smith, who went six spots later to the New York Giants. That Smith now has more than five times as many NFL receptions (137) as Jarrett.
Carolina also used an '07 fourth-round pick on receiver/kick returner Ryne Robinson. After showing some early promise, he suffered a knee injury that appeared to cost him a step, leading to his being waived Aug.31.
Before last season, the Panthers turned to a veteran receiver again during free agency, bringing back Muhammad. He helped the team to a 12-4 record and NFC South title.
Another '08 free agent who was believed to have starting potential, former Seattle receiver D.J. Hackett, was a disappointment and was released after one year.
Muhammad's production is down and his future with the team is uncertain. He's in the final year of his contract.
At 36, Muhammad is the league's second-oldest receiver behind San Francisco's Isaac Bruce. Though still an excellent blocker and possession receiver, Muhammad isn't the downfield force he used to be.
He has 33 receptions for 337 yards and no touchdowns. His 10.2-yard average per catch is lower than any season during his 14-year career and is well below his 14.2 average last year.
Of course, not much else about the Panthers' passing game has worked as well this year, either.
Delhomme's play has made it clear Carolina must acquire a quarterback who can eventually start, even if Delhomme remains at the helm next season.
But whoever is playing quarterback must have a fresh infusion of receiving help, too.
Smith will be 31 next year and won't be in his prime forever. The Panthers can't afford to let another season go by without getting him the help he needs to be the best he can be.
