Damiere Byrd has the tools to be a contributor in the Carolina Panthers offense in 2018.
It’s been talked about a lot during the 2018 offseason, but adjustments are needed within the Carolina Panthers passing attack. As the front office continues to make moves to rebuild the core of men tasked to catch the ball from Cam Newton, Damiere Byrd looks like he may be a name that has a wide range of growth in the coming season.
In early March, the Panthers reached a one-year deal with Byrd that is worth $630,000. This deal came on the heels of a season in which he caught 10 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. While that doesn’t immediately jump off of the page, he had the third most touchdown receptions on the team (second most among all wide receivers). At 25-years old he has the youth and the potential for growth that gives the Panthers some much needed flexibility and depth at the position.
Looking a bit deeper at the current situation, it seems that the Panthers also have confidence in the former South Carolina Gamecock. The Panthers allowed Kaelin Clay to move onto to the Buffalo Bills and Ed Dickson joined the Seattle Seahawks. Clay wasn’t nearly as productive as Byrd in 2017 and Dickson was an important replacement for the injured Greg Olsen. Where Carolina struggled is that the Panthers could not find another option to help fill the void of a playmaking threat. Christian McCaffrey had a strong rookie season, but Devin Funchess was the only main passing threat on this offense.
With Byrd the Panthers have the potential to create a deep play threat that they’ve been missing since losing Ted Ginn Jr. to the New Orleans Saints. Byrd ran an impressive 4.28-second 40-yard dash back at his Pro Day in 2015.
His track record at South Carolina supports the idea that he can break open big plays as he averaged more than 15 yards per reception all four years in college, which includes an impressive 26.1 yards per game in 2012. Torrey Smith is expected to help fill that void, but Byrd is a probable back-up option that gives the team a long-term solution if he continues to develop.
It will be interesting to see what Carolina continues to do with their receivers as the off season continues. Expectations are that Carolina will pick up a wide receiver or two in the draft. They’ve also signed Jarius Wright to a two-year deal that may be competition for playing time with Byrd this season.
Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Post-free agency 3 rounds
On paper, the Panthers made the right move by signing Byrd to a one-year deal worth $630,000. That deal gives the Panthers another weapon as they continue to rebuild the passing game that was very mediocre last season. At the same time, it helps motivate a young player in Byrd that has shown he has some of the tools needed to be a high-level contributor in the NFL. The overall story is whether or not this comes to fruition, but it is a move in the right direction at a time when the Panthers need depth at wide receiver.