Panthers WR options next season.

[Mekeritrig]

Now that everyone is pretty excited about the prospect that we may have a good QB starting for us, I'm going to try to break down the next biggest need in my opinion for the team. We are painfully thin at the position, and Steve Smith, we don't have any legitimate threats (No offense to Moose, he's great for his age, but shouldn't be a number two receiver at this point).

Our current roster has five active Wide receivers and one on the practice squad.

Current Receivers:

• Steve Smith: By far the best receiver on the roster. He can do just about anything.
  
• Muhsin Muhammad: Current #2, has issues getting down the field, but still has good hands and is an excellent run blocker.
  
• Dwayne Jarret: Big draft pick that turned into a bust. Currently an afterthought, perhaps Moore can get more out of him than Jake? With Smith out next week, we should see if he can play. I'm guessing we should just cut him though.
  
• Kenneth Moore: Young and unproven, it would be hard to project him as being anything more than a #3 next season if he even manages to make the roster.
  
• Charly Martin: Who is this guy? About the equivalent to a walk-on I think.
  

Notable Draft Options

• Dez Bryant: Fantastic receiver. If he falls into our lap, its hard to argue against picking this guy up. He has great size and hands. He will probably be gone long before we have the chance to draft him though.
  
• Golden Tate: This guy is a playmaker. We could use him as a kick returner and receiver, both places where we lack depth. He's not very big, but Panther's fans should know size is not a determining factor. He reminds me of Percy Harvin. I'd draft him if we had the chance.
  
• Marty Gilyard: Dynamic receiver out of Cincinatti, another good option if he's available.
  
• Damian Williams: John Fox might avoid drafting another receiver out of USC, but Williams definitely has a lot of talent. He's not as flashy as the others I've listed, but in all likelihood our 2nd round draft pick won't be able to get any of them and we'll have to settle for someone like this if we do draft a receiver.
  
• Demaryius Thomas: Coming out of Georgia Tech, the guy is big, fast, and has great hands. Physically, I don't think there is a match for him in the upcoming draft class. He reminds me of Andre Johnson. He's a specialist in deep route running. If you are shooting for a big guy rather than a someone quick like Tate that's where I would look in the second-third round.
  

This part of the list is most interesting, because I think Fox would be more likely to go for a proven receiver than a young guy. There are some extremely talented receivers up in the air this off-season, and it will take a big contract to land the top talent.

Free Agents

• Above our Paygrade: (These players are unlikely to sign with a new team, or would demand contracts unlikely for us to pay)
  
  • Vincent Jackson: I wish we could have him opposite Smith. He's huge and has great speed and hands. Likely to resign with the Chargers.
  • Brandon Marshall: One of the most talented receivers in the league. His contract is going to be enormous next season wherever he goes.
  • Braylon Edwards: Small chance of going after him. Even though he is criticized for drops, he'd still be great next to Smith.
  
  
  
• Realistic choices: Cheaper than the above elite guys, but still decent receivers who could play well, all of them are big guys who could replace Moose.
  
  • Antonio Bryant: He showed a lot of promise in 2008, and I think he could be a good receiver with a decent QB throwing to him. Age is a factor, but hopefully we can bring in someone through the draft to put behind him. I think he would be a solid number 2 and could take a lot of pressure off of Moose and Smith.
  • Malcom Floyd: Big guy with decent numbers. He's older than most of the others, but at this point we need to pick somebody up. At the minimum I think he could put up numbers like Moose.
  • Jason Avant: The Eagles are a passing team, and have a knack for finding and developing receivers. I would definitely go after him if we don't pick up someone in the draft. He's young and has a lot of games left in him.
  • Steve Breaston: [RFA] This guy is very talented, but plays in the shadow of superstars Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. He proved he can play last season when he had over 1000 yards. Being a restricted free agent is the biggest drawback, I don't see him being a cheap pickup. Its too bad though because everyone Kurt Warner touches seems to turn into a great receiver.
  • Kevin Walter: Reliable target from Houston who has size and can make some plays. Hasn't posted a 1k yard season, but is used to living in the shadow of a better receiver. I'm not sure how bad Houston wants to hold onto him, so he might be a deal or could resign.
  
  
  
• The Others:
  
  • Davone Bess: Young and athletic, his inexperience makes him a bigger risk than the others on the list, but he could be decent in the slot. Miami could be wary of giving up another little guy after seeing how Welker turned out when they let the Patriots grab him. Bess is a poor man's Steve Smith.
  

[hepcat]

Jason Avant is a guy on that list I could see the Panthers realistically signing. He made a nice TD catch against the Broncos and the Eagles likely won't keep him because they are stacked at WR. Probably wouldn't break the bank and would be a solid replacement for Moose.

[Mekeritrig]

I agree Hepcat. Of all the guys on that list Avant would be the one I would target the most simply because his talent, experience, and price point all hit the sweet spot for a number two guy.

[Kurb]

You missed some good ones

[Mekeritrig]

Feel free to add suggestions, I'll put them in my original post if I agree with you.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Moose will have 50 catches by seasons end.

I think that's pretty good for a 2nd recieving option in a year where we had two 1000 yard backs, would you not agree?

No doubt we have got to get some depth at the position, and it is a need, but Moose is in good enough shape that I'm perfectly comfortable with him being our no. 2 guy next year.

[Kurb]

Davone Bess

Kevin Walter

Steve Breaston (RFA)

Jerheme Urban

[Mekeritrig]

^ Moose will be 37 next year. It would be foolish not to expect him to drop off some next year. I agree that he's a great receiver and has taken very good care of his body, but he's not superman and we need to be ready to have someone to take his place ASAP.

[Sloth]

If the Bucs are dumb enough not to re-sign him, I'd love Bryant. Great speed/size and his headache days seem to be past. Plus, the way he tends to play in Charlotte, the guy would be putting up 200 yard games at home

Bess is another guy I'd love for us to look at.

[bleys]

Ricky Proehl was great towards the end of his career taking advantage of the nickle CB and the slot receiver position. He wasn't a #2 because we had 2 stud WRs at the time in Smitherson and Moose.

Moose may get to squeak out another year or 2 if we could acquire a good 2nd receiver.. It is rather baffling at how impossible that seems since Proehl retired and Moose left for Chicago.

If the Bucs are dumb enough not to re-sign him, I'd love Bryant. Great speed/size and his headache days seem to be past. Plus, the way he tends to play in Charlotte, the guy would be putting up 200 yard games at home

Bess is another guy I'd love for us to look at.

Bryant is a guy I can see having a dominate year over other WR's if he could stay healthy and play on a team that would better showcase his talent. The guy fails to drop a pass.

[ncbobcat]

Moose should be no higher than our #3 WR next year. We need a solid compliment to Smitty. The Jarrett experiment is over. Let's trade him, stick him at #5 spot (essentially inactive) or cut him. Two upgrades are needed, one opposite Smitty at #2 and a promising prospect to compete with our #4/#5 guys from the 2009 roster.

[Boltergeist]

If there's no new labor agreement reached soon, then Floyd and Avant will have RFA tags, since they don't have 6 years in the league.

But should the miracle of labor peace happen, I think Floyd would be a great fit in Carolina, as a field stretcher. Smith could take the Welker role and be the underneath guy.

[Delhommey]

No more slow WR's from USC. KTHNX!

[ZedLeppelin]

I want Kevin Walter in FA and Golden Tate in the 2nd round.

Steve Smith

Kevin Walter

Mushin Muhammad

Golden Tate

Kenneth Moore

Thats what I hope our WRs look like next year with Tate possibly passing Moose and maybe even Walter on the depth chart at some point during the season.