Panthers analysis: To fix receiving corps, Carolina must build around 3 key players

By the time the 2017 season ended, it was abundantly clear that one of the greatest offseason needs would be to get Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton some help.

Bluntly speaking, there are three core players around whom the Panthers must rebuild their receiving corps this spring: Devin Funchess, Greg Olsen and Christian McCaffrey.

These three have proved themselves to be consistent playmakers and dependable targets for Newton. But even with Olsen expected to be back to full health in 2018 after missing most of last season, it won’t be enough to only have those three.

A look at the situation, and the potential fixes:

Three things to know

▪  Funchess’ potential: First and foremost, the Panthers must decide if they can commit to Funchess as their No. 1 receiver. After stepping into the role vacated by Benjamin, Funchess thrived with 405 yards in five games. His production dipped in the last few weeks of the season, in part because of a hurt shoulder.

▪  Health matters: We still don’t know what could have been with Carolina’s receiving corps last season. Injuries plagued the Panthers throughout the year. As they prepared for the playoffs, the Panthers were down to McCaffrey, a banged-up Olsen and Funchess, and three other receivers with a combined 30 catches among them.

▪  Is this the year to draft a tight end? Olsen, historically Newton’s favorite target, will be fully recovered from the fractured foot that sidelined him for eight weeks last season. At 32, Olsen still has a good season or two left in him. But is it time to start looking for his replacement? This year’s tight end draft class is not strong, but the top prospect, South Dakota State’s Dallas Goedert, already looks like an Olsen-Rob Gronkowski hybrid.

On the roster

▪  Funchess: He isn’t just a prototypical outside receiver. He is deceptively quick and able to line up inside and outside. Carolina would do well to exploit those talents with versatile, creative calls and personnel groupings. Funchess seems to be on a great trajectory as he heads into his fourth season.

▪  Curtis Samuel: After being drafted in the second round in 2017, Samuel struggled with various hamstring and ankle injuries all spring and summer and missed most of training camp. Working him in when he was finally healthy was slow, and he made early mistakes before starting to find himself against Miami. Samuel then suffered a season-ending ankle injury in that same game, and had to have surgery. He hopes to be back to full health by training camp, but the Panthers need to have a contingency plan in place.

▪  Damiere Byrd: Byrd, a speedy vertical threat, came off injured reserve and scored three touchdowns in two games before suffering a season-ending injury. Byrd has the potential to be an explosive situational contributor in 2018, and can also return punts.

▪  Also: McCaffrey, from his running back spot, led the team with 80 receptions in 2017, and Carolina will continue to utilize him heavily as a receiver in future seasons. Kaelin Clay showed promise as a return man and made a couple of big plays as a receiver, but drops at crucial times haunted him. Russell Shepard contributed well as Carolina’s gunner on special teams, but aside from a season-opening touchdown his production was not consistent. Brenton Bersin has been signed six times and waived five, but he stuck to the roster through the wild card game last year.

Free agent possibilities

▪  Allen Robinson, Jacksonville: What if the Panthers want to get creative and display Funchess’ versatility? Carolina may then look to a prototype No. 1 wideout. Robinson, who is 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, had a 1,400-yard season in 2015 and 73 catches for 883 yards in 2016. He sat out the 2017 season while recovering from ACL surgery, which makes him a bit of a risk. But Robinson is athletic and wins consistently against defensive backs, which has been an issue for Carolina’s receivers. He might be too costly to sign.

▪  Paul Richardson, Seattle: Richardson is a dependable complementary receiver who had 703 yards in Seattle last season. According to NFL Network’s Matt Harmon, Richardson also is at his best when in tight coverage, 27.3 yards per reception on catches where he had less than a yard of separation. Getting space and winning contested balls has been an issue for the Panthers for two years. The cost of signing Richardson would also likely be less than Landry or Robinson.

Draft possibilities

▪  Calvin Ridley, Alabama: Likely the first receiver off the board in the 2018 draft, Ridley is a dominant player and a Day 1 NFL starter. He will be long gone by Carolina’s pick, but based on need and talent, it’s hard to believe the Panthers wouldn’t snap him up if they could.

▪  D.J. Moore, Maryland: One of the top receiving prospects in the draft, Moore would be a great fit as a slot receiver for Carolina. Moore is already drawing comparisons to Golden Tate. He could be a possibility for the Panthers at No. 24.

▪  Christian Kirk, Texas A&M: Kirk is an exciting prospect who has been projected as the Panthers’ pick at No. 24 by a few analysts in early mock drafts. He creates space well and has explosive ability.

▪  Daesean Hamilton, Penn State: Hamilton would be a third or fourth-round option for the Panthers. He is a route specialist who excels in the slot, and has a knack for widening the target window for a quarterback.

The bottom line

Carolina could clean house in its receiving corps this offseason, choosing to build around Funchess, McCaffrey and Olsen with complementary pieces from free agency and the draft.

Getting help for Newton isn’t just a hope for the team – it’s a necessity.

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This story was originally published February 20, 2018 at 4:07 PM with the headline "Panthers analysis: To fix receiving corps, Carolina must build around 3 key players."