This week, Bleacher Report came out with a list ranking the receivers/tight ends for every NFL team for 2019. The Carolina Panthers’ group was ranked No. 28. Here’s B/R on why Carolina ranked so low:
“. . . the team’s 2018 first-round receiver, Moore, spent the bulk of his snaps in the slot. The same can be said of Hogan, who signed with Carolina in free agency. Samuel is a hybrid player. Smith is the team’s only true outside threat after Devin Funchess left to sign with the Indianapolis Colts, and that’s not enough.”
We respectfully disagree.
In 2018, D.J. Moore graded out as the best rookie receiver in the league by Pro Football Focus after averaging 14.3 yards per reception and forcing a league-leading .31 missed tackles per reception. He also lead the league in yards after contact per reception (5.06) and yards after catch per reception (7.91). Meanwhile, Curtis Samuel ranked fifth in the league in terms of quarterback ranking when targeted (134.1) per PFF.
Either one could be a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver for the Panthers in 2018.
The team is also relatively deep at the position, with solid supplemental pieces like Chris Hogan and Jarius Wright. Torrey Smith also had his moments in 2018 before getting injured.
Although the team’s offense largely hinges on the potential of the team’s relatively untested young core, it’s a hard sell to say that the Panthers feature one of the worst units in the league.
In fact, one could argue they’ll be one of the league’s better pass-catching teams if Greg Olsen stays healthy.
