Carolina Panthers mailbag: Which wide receivers could be draft options in second round?
The Carolina Panthers’ measured spending spree in free agency has filled holes within a depleted depth chart. But the squad still has a ton more work to do before fielding a squad for organized team activities.
With several free agents still available and the NFL Draft coming up next month, Panthers fans naturally have questions about their favorite team’s roster movement. That’s why The Charlotte Observer has the Panthers mailbag to answer those questions.
Here are some standout questions from social media:
Wide receivers in second round of NFL Draft
Steven asks: What are our options at WR in round 2?
Reid also asks: How much does the addition of Diontae Johnson shape the style of WR the team will target in the second round, if at all?
Due to an early offseason coaching search, a broken arm and a new baby at home, I am admittedly a tad behind on my draft studies. But luckily, when I need expert insight, I can get a little help from some friends: Pro Football Focus draft analyst Trevor Sikkema and NFL Media draft analyst Eric Edholm.
I asked both analysts about who could be the top three available options for the Panthers in the No. 33-45 range (in case of a trade back for more picks) at wide receiver with the idea that these prospects would complement Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson.
Both analysts differed on their top choice in the pick range. Sikkema went with Troy Franklin from Oregon, while Edholm chose combine standout Xavier Worthy of Texas.
Franklin, listed as 6-foot-2 and 178 pounds, caught 160 passes for 2,483 yards and 25 touchdowns in 40 games for the Ducks in three seasons. He ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash and had a broad jump of 10 feet, 4 inches at the NFL Scouting Combine in February in Indianapolis.
“Both Franklin and (Johnson) could stretch the field and give the Panthers a more legit vertical part of their passing attack than what was available in 2023,” Sikkema said.
Worthy, listed as 5-11 and 165 pounds, turned heads at the combine by setting a new record for the 40-yard dash (4.21 seconds). He also produced 197 receptions for 2,755 career yards and 26 career touchdowns in 39 career games for the Longhorns over three seasons.
“I think I’d start with Xavier Worthy, who is sort of an obvious one if you believe he’ll fall to 33 or thereabouts,” Edholm said. “His combine-record 40 might push him into Round 1, even if I don’t know he’ll ever be a true No. 1 receiver. I see some Jaylen Waddle-like traits in Worthy’s game, and Bryce Young thrived at Bama throwing to similar types of yards-after-the-catch targets. Worthy would fit in nicely with the group the Panthers have now as a three-level threat and a gadget player who can be integrated. He could be there at 33 but likely wouldn’t last until 39, in my opinion.”
Despite their different top picks, Sikkema and Edholm both named Florida’s Ricky Pearsall and South Carolina’s Xavier Legette as two other strong fits in that range.
Pearsall, listed as 6-1 and 189 pounds, played in 53 games for the Gators during his five-year collegiate career. He caught 159 total passes for 2,420 career yards and 14 career touchdowns. At the combine, Pearsall ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash and an impressive 6.64-second 3-cone drill. He also had 10-foot, 9-inch broad jump and a 42-inch vertical jump.
“Ricky Pearsall is one of my favorites in this class,” Edholm said. “He’s a tough, savvy operator with springy athleticism, a knack for getting open and terrific hands and body control. He can line up both inside and out, adding to his appeal. Inconsistent production can be blamed on Gators QBs’ accuracy issues, and he’s lacking in the strength department, with a leaner frame. That said, Pearsall gives effort as a blocker and is willing to sacrifice his body for a tough catch.
“Watch how Dave Canales used Trey Palmer last season in Tampa, and you can get a good idea how Pearsall might fit in Carolina. And for a team that needs to generate offense any way possible, Pearsall also has run for five touchdowns in his career and can throw it, too. ... He also can return punts.”
Legette, listed as 6-foot-1 and 221 pounds, played in 53 games for the Gamecocks and produced 113 total catches for 1,678 career receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. He ran 4.39-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis. He also had a broad jump of 10 feet, 6 inches and a 40-inch vertical jump.
“Legette from South Carolina would give the Panthers a strong ‘X’ type of a receiver,” said Sikkema, who paired the South Carolina prospect with the Panthers’ No. 39 pick in latest mock draft. “He’s not as tall as a typical ‘X’ but he has the strength for it, and can be someone who comes up with big contested catches. That felt like a big inconsistency in 2023.”
Based on the input of Sikkema and Edholm, the options at the top of the second round are plentiful and can help the Panthers. With two top-40 picks, the Panthers will be in position upgrade their wide receiver depth based on their projection.
To further answer Reid’s question: I think Johnson’s versatility and contract length (one year remaining) make his presence inconsequential to the style of wideout that the Panthers target in the draft.
Bargain shopping in free agency
Ed asks: Of the remaining free agents, which players might be terrific bargains for the Panthers?
While he might not come at a bargain price relative to the rest of the market, former Los Angeles Chargers wideout Mike Williams is an option. The Panthers plan to host Williams for a visit this week, as The Observer reported on Friday.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Panthers are also planning to have former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup in for a visit. He’s coming off back-to-back forgettable campaigns in Arlington.
If the Panthers are able to land Williams or Gallup, the deal will likely be short term and stacked with incentives.
Williams tore his ACL in Week 3 of last season, and he will need time to recover and get back into shape this offseason. If the Panthers can get him at a price that meets their liking and the medical check clears, then they should pounce on signing Williams. The same could be said for Gallup if Williams falls through.
But while Williams and Gallup are notable names, they aren’t the only potential bargains on the open market.
Last week, The Observer released a list of six potential bargain free agents who the Panthers could consider.
The list initially included former Los Angeles Rams safety Jordan Fuller, who signed with the Panthers on Friday. Other options included Detroit Lions outside linebacker Romeo Okwara, New York Giants linebacker Isaiah Simmons and Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Some other names who missed the cut were Rams center Brian Allen, Chiefs pass rusher Mike Danna, Washington Commanders outside linebacker Casey Toohill and Tennessee Titans cornerback Kristian Fulton.
I don’t expect the Panthers to continue to make daily transactions this week, but if they can find some bargains at spots of need, I’m sure they’ll try to take advantage of the market. With seven picks in the draft, they aren’t beholden to free agency, but they should try to manage their opportunity costs when palatable.
The center of the draft
Carter asks: How do you think free agent results will impact draft strategy? Strong center class and would be happy with them going center and wide receiver with their 2 seconds.
It is indeed a strong center class, according to various draft experts. So, since we’ve already touched heavily on the wide receiver position on Day 2, let’s chat about the middle of the offensive line a bit.
West Virginia center Zach Frazier (Edholm’s 40th-ranked overall prospect) showed me “dawg” traits last month in Indianapolis. After breaking his left leg in his final game with the Mountaineers in November, he took part in field drills at the Combine in late February. That’s a “dawg” performance if I’ve ever seen one. He also looked pretty terrific in pull and pass blocking drills on that injured leg.
I’ve been told for weeks that the Panthers plan to address the center position at some point this offseason. The team released former starting center Bradley Bozeman last week, and the tentative plan right now is to move former starting right guard Austin Corbett to the middle. With Corbett on the final year of his deal — and having limited experience at center — it would make sense for the Panthers to target a prospect at the position in April. Frazier is considered an early-to-mid-Day 2 prospect.
Other center options later in the draft could be Tanor Bortolini of Wisconsin, Matt Lee of Miami and Jacob Monk of Duke.
The Panthers have the No. 33 and No. 39 picks in the second round. Both of those picks are valuable trade chips, so I expect at least one of them to be sold for more draft assets — either for this year or future years.
If they hang onto both picks or still pick twice within the top 60, I expect the Panthers to address two of these four positions: center, wide receiver (even if Williams or Gallup signs), edge rusher and cornerback. There’s also an outside chance they look at tight end, linebacker and safety, depending on how the board shakes out.
I think they’ve had a mostly reasonable approach to free agency, collecting young veterans coming off rookie contracts or bringing in players who are under 30 and have a background with the coaching staff or personnel department.
They’ve touched on wide receiver, guard, cornerback, safety, linebacker, defensive line and pass rusher.
There’s a lot of work to do, though, and the Panthers should be able to keep their options open because they have plenty of spots for improvement.
This story was originally published March 19, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
