By CORY SPIERS
coryspiers@gmail.com
If the Panthers are to take the next step in 2018-19, they'll need more playmakers to do it.
After former first round pick Kelvin Benjamin was shipped to Buffalo at the trade deadline this past October, third-year wideout Devin Funchess took off and put together his best career season with 63 catches for 840 yards and eight touchdowns-- all of which were career highs.
It was a good season for Funchess. But it's no secret he's not the vertical threat the Panthers need to make Cam Newton flourish under new offensive coordinator Norv Turner.
Funchess is a decent route runner, he's big and he's reasonably physical. But he can't take the top off an opposing defense consistently, which is where outside help comes in.
Brenton Bersin and Kaelin Clay are both set to hit free agency this spring. With a lot of outside help available through the draft and free agency, I wouldn't expect either one is high on Carolina's priority list.
Newton and Funchess need help. It just so happens, there are a few notable names hitting the open market this spring.
With their roster as currently constructed, the Panthers have about $8.7 million (or 5.2 percent of the total salary cap) tied up among seven receivers-- which is just the 28th most in receiver spending in the league.
Carolina's highest paid wide receiver isn't actually Funchess, who is due to enter the final year of a four-year, $5.5 million contract. It's actually Russell Shepard, who inked a three-year, $10 million deal with the team last offseason.
Shepard, 27, followed with 17 catches for 202 yards and one touchdown, all of which were down from his final season in Tampa Bay in 2016.
If the Panthers cut ties with Shepard, which I think they should, they'll have even more fund balance to play with at the receiver position.
The options? There are a few intriguing ones.
Jarvis Landry, 2017: 987 yards, 9 touchdowns:
If whoever becomes the Panthers next owner is serious about competing and is willing to spend to do so, this would be a loud bang of a first move.
It's the type of high profile signing the Panthers have never been famous for. Historically, their offseason signings have consisted of bargain bin shopping with a focus on growing talent organically through the draft.
Landry is an explosive game breaker, and he just missed his third consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season with an ambivalent Jay Cutler as his quarterback in Miami.
Landry reportedly feels "disrespected" by contract talks with the Dolphins so far. Undoubtedly, and further more unsurprisingly, he likely wants to be made one of the league's top receivers.
At just 25, the former LSU Tiger certainly has a case for it. After a rookie campaign that saw him catch 84 passes for 758 yards and five scores, Landry followed with two 1,000-yard seasons during which he accounted for eight touchdowns and an eye-popping 194 catches.
Landry's 112 receptions and nine touchdowns this past season were both career highs.
Look, if it's not Miami, someone will make Landry a very rich man and one of the game's top paid receivers.
Green Bay's Devante Adams just inked a four-year deal worth $58 million. One would think Landry will use that as a jumping off point for his next deal, whether it's in Miami or elsewhere. It certainly won't be cheap.
While the franchise tag is always in play for the Dolphins, adding Landry would be a huge splash for Carolina if it could find a way. It would give Newton and Turner a very shiny weapon with which to work.
Mike Wallace, 2017: 748 yards, 4 touchdowns:
At 31 years old, Wallace's best, most explosive seasons might be behind him, but he's an intriguing veteran piece.
Wallace told the Maryland Cecil Whig earlier this week he's uncertain about his future and would be open to remaining in Baltimore, but winning a Super Bowl remains his priority.
If Wallace thinks Carolina has a legitimate shot at that, he might listen to an offer.
Wallace has spent time with four teams during nine NFL seasons and quietly led the Ravens in receiving in both of his last two seasons with the team.
He has three 1,000-yard seasons and a pair of 10-touchdown campaigns to his credit.
Wallace inked a two-year deal worth $11.5 million with the Ravens before the 2016 season. He likely wouldn't be anywhere near as expensive as Landry.
Paul Richardson, 2017: 703 yards, 6 touchdowns:
Richardson is an interesting player because this past season looks like an outlier among his career stats.
The 25-year-old fourth year pro set career highs in every category with Seattle this past season, posting 44 catches for 703 yards and six touchdowns.
In his first three seasons with the Seahawks, however, he played a total of 31 games, never caught more than 30 passes, never crossed the 300-yard receiving mark and had just two receiving touchdowns.
Cap expert Joel Corry Tweeted Richardson would probably be looking to make more than his old high school teammate, Robert Woods, who inked a five-year $34 million deal with the Rams. Corry said Richardson would likely look for an average just north of $7 million annually.
If Seattle re-signs Richardson, it may not be able to keep Tyler Lockett, who is also due for a new deal after next season.
Richardson seems like a bit of a dice roll. He's certainly not as flashy as Landry, but he could prove to be more expensive and less effective than a veteran player like Wallace.
Brian Quick, 2017: 76 yards, 0 touchdowns:
Now we're into territory that makes sense for the Panthers, given their track record.
At least under Jerry Richardson's watch, the Panthers love local guys, see Edwards, Armanti and Bersin, Brenton. Quick was a standout playmaker at Appalachian State and was born in Columbia, South Carolina.
Quick's best seasons came in a Rams uniform. Speaking of the Rams, I'd mention Sammy Watkins, but I imagine, especially considering what they gave up to acquire him from Buffalo, Los Angeles will slap him with the franchise tag quicker than you can blink this spring.
Quick probably isn't the game breaker I think the Panthers need. But, he's an interesting depth option if the Panthers choose to reload their wide receiving cupboard primarily through the draft.
Quick, 28, put together his best season as a pro in 2015 when he racked up 564 yards to complement three touchdowns.
In Washington this past season, he was targeted just eight times as he slumped to six catches for 76 yards.
Other notable receivers set to hit free agency: Eric Decker, Marqise Lee, Taylor Gabriel
coryspiers@gmail.com
If the Panthers are to take the next step in 2018-19, they'll need more playmakers to do it.
After former first round pick Kelvin Benjamin was shipped to Buffalo at the trade deadline this past October, third-year wideout Devin Funchess took off and put together his best career season with 63 catches for 840 yards and eight touchdowns-- all of which were career highs.
It was a good season for Funchess. But it's no secret he's not the vertical threat the Panthers need to make Cam Newton flourish under new offensive coordinator Norv Turner.
Funchess is a decent route runner, he's big and he's reasonably physical. But he can't take the top off an opposing defense consistently, which is where outside help comes in.
Brenton Bersin and Kaelin Clay are both set to hit free agency this spring. With a lot of outside help available through the draft and free agency, I wouldn't expect either one is high on Carolina's priority list.
Newton and Funchess need help. It just so happens, there are a few notable names hitting the open market this spring.
With their roster as currently constructed, the Panthers have about $8.7 million (or 5.2 percent of the total salary cap) tied up among seven receivers-- which is just the 28th most in receiver spending in the league.
Carolina's highest paid wide receiver isn't actually Funchess, who is due to enter the final year of a four-year, $5.5 million contract. It's actually Russell Shepard, who inked a three-year, $10 million deal with the team last offseason.
Shepard, 27, followed with 17 catches for 202 yards and one touchdown, all of which were down from his final season in Tampa Bay in 2016.
If the Panthers cut ties with Shepard, which I think they should, they'll have even more fund balance to play with at the receiver position.
The options? There are a few intriguing ones.
Jarvis Landry, 2017: 987 yards, 9 touchdowns:
If whoever becomes the Panthers next owner is serious about competing and is willing to spend to do so, this would be a loud bang of a first move.
It's the type of high profile signing the Panthers have never been famous for. Historically, their offseason signings have consisted of bargain bin shopping with a focus on growing talent organically through the draft.
Landry is an explosive game breaker, and he just missed his third consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season with an ambivalent Jay Cutler as his quarterback in Miami.
Landry reportedly feels "disrespected" by contract talks with the Dolphins so far. Undoubtedly, and further more unsurprisingly, he likely wants to be made one of the league's top receivers.
At just 25, the former LSU Tiger certainly has a case for it. After a rookie campaign that saw him catch 84 passes for 758 yards and five scores, Landry followed with two 1,000-yard seasons during which he accounted for eight touchdowns and an eye-popping 194 catches.
Landry's 112 receptions and nine touchdowns this past season were both career highs.
Look, if it's not Miami, someone will make Landry a very rich man and one of the game's top paid receivers.
Green Bay's Devante Adams just inked a four-year deal worth $58 million. One would think Landry will use that as a jumping off point for his next deal, whether it's in Miami or elsewhere. It certainly won't be cheap.
While the franchise tag is always in play for the Dolphins, adding Landry would be a huge splash for Carolina if it could find a way. It would give Newton and Turner a very shiny weapon with which to work.
Mike Wallace, 2017: 748 yards, 4 touchdowns:
At 31 years old, Wallace's best, most explosive seasons might be behind him, but he's an intriguing veteran piece.
Wallace told the Maryland Cecil Whig earlier this week he's uncertain about his future and would be open to remaining in Baltimore, but winning a Super Bowl remains his priority.
If Wallace thinks Carolina has a legitimate shot at that, he might listen to an offer.
Wallace has spent time with four teams during nine NFL seasons and quietly led the Ravens in receiving in both of his last two seasons with the team.
He has three 1,000-yard seasons and a pair of 10-touchdown campaigns to his credit.
Wallace inked a two-year deal worth $11.5 million with the Ravens before the 2016 season. He likely wouldn't be anywhere near as expensive as Landry.
Paul Richardson, 2017: 703 yards, 6 touchdowns:
Richardson is an interesting player because this past season looks like an outlier among his career stats.
The 25-year-old fourth year pro set career highs in every category with Seattle this past season, posting 44 catches for 703 yards and six touchdowns.
In his first three seasons with the Seahawks, however, he played a total of 31 games, never caught more than 30 passes, never crossed the 300-yard receiving mark and had just two receiving touchdowns.
Cap expert Joel Corry Tweeted Richardson would probably be looking to make more than his old high school teammate, Robert Woods, who inked a five-year $34 million deal with the Rams. Corry said Richardson would likely look for an average just north of $7 million annually.
If Seattle re-signs Richardson, it may not be able to keep Tyler Lockett, who is also due for a new deal after next season.
Richardson seems like a bit of a dice roll. He's certainly not as flashy as Landry, but he could prove to be more expensive and less effective than a veteran player like Wallace.
Brian Quick, 2017: 76 yards, 0 touchdowns:
Now we're into territory that makes sense for the Panthers, given their track record.
At least under Jerry Richardson's watch, the Panthers love local guys, see Edwards, Armanti and Bersin, Brenton. Quick was a standout playmaker at Appalachian State and was born in Columbia, South Carolina.
Quick's best seasons came in a Rams uniform. Speaking of the Rams, I'd mention Sammy Watkins, but I imagine, especially considering what they gave up to acquire him from Buffalo, Los Angeles will slap him with the franchise tag quicker than you can blink this spring.
Quick probably isn't the game breaker I think the Panthers need. But, he's an interesting depth option if the Panthers choose to reload their wide receiving cupboard primarily through the draft.
Quick, 28, put together his best season as a pro in 2015 when he racked up 564 yards to complement three touchdowns.
In Washington this past season, he was targeted just eight times as he slumped to six catches for 76 yards.
Other notable receivers set to hit free agency: Eric Decker, Marqise Lee, Taylor Gabriel
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