Carolina Panthers: Will Devin Funchess fill the void?

The Carolina Panthers have drafted a wide receiver highly in each of the past two drafts, and both Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess are big wideouts who can give franchise quarterback Cam Newton a huge catch radius. Last season, we saw 2014 first-round pick Benjamin bail out Newton time after time on jump balls downfield, and he made up for his raw route-running and expected drop issues by making unrealistic, video game-esque catches to finish with nine touchdowns and 13.8 yards per reception as one of the NFL’s most impressive rookies.

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Unfortunately, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has reported that Benjamin’s MRI revealed that the former Florida State star will miss the entire 2015 season with a torn ACL, contrary to the “knee sprain” comment that Panthers head coach Ron Rivera optimistically gave us.

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It’s hard to be optimistic about this injury, because the Panthers are in huge trouble without their “X” receiver. Benjamin wasn’t perfect, but he transitioned to the NFL much better than expected with writers, such as myself, severely underestimating his ball skills and explosiveness. The Panthers are missing a game-breaking talent and red zone beast, and that’s something nobody on this roster can replace.

But with Benjamin gone, the focus turns to 2015 second-round pick Funchess, who had a less-than-impressive final season with Michigan thanks to Devin Gardner’s beyond atrocious play at quarterback. People have criticized Funchess for giving up, but it’s hard to look like you’re trying when your quarterback is scared, inaccurate, and continues to toss hopeless desperation throws in your direction.

At 6’4″, 225 pound, Funchess has the size the Panthers obviously coveted when they drafted him, but now he’ll have to be miscast as the No. 1 receiver without Benjamin. He’s not fast at all, but, like Benjamin, he can dominate at the catch point. The Panthers aren’t going to have a true “X” next season, simply because Funchess doesn’t profile as that kind of a receiver; he has fundamental limitations.

That doesn’t mean the Panthers are totally screwed yet, though, because they have explosive pieces on offense. Ted Ginn Jr. has shown that he can go vertical and make things happen with the ball in his hands, while Corey Brown has emerged as a legit deep threat for this team. It’s true that the likes of Jerricho Cotchery and Jarrett Boykin, who has ostensibly been saved from the bubble by Benjamin’s injury (and Stephen Hill‘s), are only plodding possession guys, but they, too, will only add to what Greg Olsen and Funchess bring to the table.

As evidenced by his 35-yard reception in the Carolina Panthers first preseason game, Funchess can use his body to good effect downfield at times, so while the organization can’t reliably expect him to make plays beyond the intermediate game, they could get some bonus big plays out of him.

Benjamin’s injury robs the Panthers of their second-biggest athletic freak on offense, but that shouldn’t overshadow the fact that Funchess is a freak in his own right. He’s also pretty versatile and played the X, Z, and slot positions, so while his lack of speed prevents him from being a “true” X, the hope is that he can masquerade as one if Ginn and Brown can successfully stretch the field for Newton.

Aug 14, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) looks to make a pass attempt during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills in a preseason NFL football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

I like Devin Funchess as a player more than others do, and that’s largely because I’m willing to overlook his issues in his final season at Michigan. Even if you don’t buy the toe injury story that Funchess used as an explanation for his poor season, the guy is just 21 and was beyond brilliant the year before.

A lot of things broke down around him, and his size, body control, and sheer grace/fluidity when breaking in and out of his routes will immediately make him a key option for Newton in the intermediate range. He can drift over the middle to make plays, and Funchess has the hands, size, and body control to keep the chains moving on sideline catches.

Funchess has less talent than Benjamin did coming out of college due to his lack of speed, and that’s why he wasn’t a first-round pick. But he wasn’t far away from the first round either, and Funchess has the kind of talent to be a mis-match for defenses. He’s a different type of player who will not replace Benjamin, but the Panthers should be able to count on him and Olsen as important pieces in the passing game.

He’s suddenly become a big fantasy asset as a result of Benjamin’s huge injury, and he has his work cut out for him if he wants to play well enough to get the Panthers back into the playoffs. Funchess is dealing with a hamstring injury right now, but that’s not an issue at all going forward; the issue is whether or not he can show off good hands and use his body and athleticism to lead the way for the Panthers passing attack.

Many of us expect the Panthers to add another receiver to the mix to help the cause, but, in all honesty, the battle will be won with the guys on the roster. It’s all about how the likes of Funchess, Ginn, Brown, Cotchery, and Boykin do at receiver, so it’s going to be a team effort.

We know Olsen has the ability to be an excellent and consistent target, so Funchess has to be there to lead the way for the wide receivers. His versatility was supposed to be big, but now with Benjamin out, he’ll have to be more than just versatile and a mis-match maker; he’ll also need to win some matchups he’s not expected to win now that he should be the No. 1 WR by default. I have more faith in him than others, largely because I look past his lack of long speed and see a guy whose size overshadows his “shakes”, as he moves much better than most men of his size, thus making him a very rare breed.

Brown and Ginn will be key to the Panthers overcoming Benjamin’s injury, because, as I said, it’s going to be a team effort to replace a guy like KB, but Funchess is the man with the talent to elevate the passing attack the most.

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