Carolina Panthers Must Add Receivers Marvin Jones and Rishard Matthews
By Dan Salem
With a deep free agent class at wide receiver, the Carolina Panthers can boost their offense and fill their only hole. Steer clear of the big names and bring in two guys from that second tier.
We’re tackling each team in the league, traveling alphabetically to debate their biggest offseason issues. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.
TODD:
The Carolina Panthers are coming off of a tremendous season even though it ended one win short of their goal. Falling short of the Super Bowl title highlighted a shortcoming folks thought would submarine Carolina all year (even though it never seemed to matter up until the end). The shortcoming was on offense despite the Panthers being the most potent team in the NFL on that side of the ball during the regular season. The fact is, there aren’t enough skill players here outside of Cam Newton.
It hurt that the team lost Kelvin Benjamin for the season before Week 1. He will be back on the field in 2016, but who knows if he will immediately get back on pace to being a team’s number-one option.
Greg Olsen will still be catching Newton passes, but it’s much easier for defenses to game-plan against a tight end as opposed to a field-stretching wide receiver. Ted Ginn was that player for Carolina this past season, but he simply isn’t a very good NFL receiver. His route-running leaves something to be desired, and he has some of the least reliable hands in the league. Ginn finished tied for second in drops this past season and had by far the worst percentage of targeted passes caught of all players who saw at least 70 targets.
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But who can Carolina get to help the cause? Cap money needs to be set aside for re-signing Josh Norman, and the defensive secondary will be losing four total players to free agency (counting Norman). Also, there’s really only one big name hitting the wide-receiver free agency market, assuming he even gets there, and that’s Alshon Jeffery.
I’d like to see Carolina add a pair of the lesser free-agent wide receivers, pushing Ginn to the back burner and taking the pressure off of Benjamin on his return. Newton and the running game will still be the focal point of the offense. Adding just a few pieces who can be counted on to make smart plays in the passing game could be the difference next year.
DAN:
Carolina proved, much like New England has over the years, that you don’t need big name players to win at the highest level. Yet its obvious that the Panthers’ offense does need an infusion of talent to keep things going and beat great defenses. Adding unheralded wide receivers is the right move this offseason.
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There are a litany of receivers hitting free agency, ranging from proven veterans likely seeking more money than their current talent warrants, to journeyman players and complete wildcards. If Carolina can get a veteran like Anquan Boldin or Percy Harvin to accept less money for a shot at a ring, they should go for it. Otherwise I’m looking towards a few key players in need of a fresh start.
Wes Welker is still a free agent. So are James Jones and Nate Washington. But Carolina should look even younger. One player very few people know about yet is Chris Owusu. He looked very good on the Jets last season, all be it stuck behind greater talent on the roster. An elevated role in an equally potent offense would suit him and the Panthers. But the two players I’m targeting most are Rishard Matthews, with Miami last season, and Marvin Jones, with the Bengals last year.
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Both Matthews and Jones are young and hungry. Both players have shown star potential, but neither has the resumes like an Alshon Jeffery. Let Jerricho Cotchery go and slide Ginn into the background. Sign two guys who can really make a splash in 2016.