These are the six wide receivers on the Panthers active roster as of 5:21:12 PM Eastern time, 3/17/2014.
- Kealoha Pilares – Hawaii. 5’ 10” 205 lbs. Career numbers 2 receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown.
- Tavarres King – Georgia. 6’0”. 191 lbs. No statistics.
- RJ Webb – Furman. 6’2” 205 lbs. No statistics.
- Marvin McNutt – Iowa. 6’2” 216 lbs. No receptions.
- Toney Clemons – Colorado. 6’2” 210 lbs. Career numbers of 3 receptions for 41 yards.
- Brenton Bursin – Wofford. 6’3” 210 – No statistics
The Panthers wide receivers have a collective five receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown between the six of them. Carolina lost four wide receivers in free agency, Cam Newton will want someone besides Greg Olsen to catch the football in 2014 if the Panthers expect to outpace New Orleans in the NFC South. Premium free agent WR’s Hakeem Nicks and Eric Decker have already signed with Indianapolis and the New York Jets, respectively.
Noteworthy wide receivers remaining in free agency include:
- James Jones
- Danario Alexander
- Miles Austin
- Lance Moore
- Sidney Rice
Riverboat Ron Rivera watched as his starting left tackle retired from the game. He and Panthers GM Dave Gettleman will have to decide if they want their first round pick to go towards a shiny new receiver, a position of need for the past several years, or on the second most important position on the team, left tackle.
Gettleman could choose to resign former tackle Bruce Campbell. Campbell, a physical specimen heading into the draft, has never started a game in his NFL career. Campbell would provide added depth at the position, if little else.
Other options include Ryan Harris and Eric Winston. Harris’s been a solid right tackle for Houston and has allowed only 3.5 sacks over 26 starts in his career. Eric Winston had built a reputation as a solid starter until last season when his performance seemed to collapse on a terrible Cardinals offensive line. Winston might benefit from a change of scenery in Carolina.
If the Panthers can squeeze solid OT play out of a veteran like Winston or Harris on a nominally-priced contract they will come out of free agency looking like geniuses. Arizona, Miami and Oakland all dished out a hefty pay-day for tackles like Jared Veldheer, Branden Albert, and Austin Howard. Veldheer and Albert, while talented, have struggled with injuries in the past. Howard has improved significantly since his rookie days but still doesn’t deliver the same presence as a true bruiser like Matt Kalil or Joe Staley. Overspending on a free agent doesn’t make him better. Just ask Dan Snyder.
Gettleman may have to find both their starting wideouts in the draft. Fortunately the draft is supposedly stocked at the position, making prospects hopeful for the future in Carolina.
Gridiron Seasonal 