Jaguars trade third-year WR Laviska Shenault to Panthers

Shenault, whom the Jags took in the 2020 second round, has shown flashes in Jacksonville, doing so as the team keeps changing its offense. He will have another chance to make an impression in Carolina. The Panthers have been looking for more receiving help, despite rostering D.J. Moore, Robbie Anderson and 2021 second-round pick Terrace Marshall. Two seasons remain on Shenault’s rookie deal.

Carolina had been connected to disgruntled Jets wideout Denzel Mims, who was also a 2020 second-round pick. Mims’ Matt Rhule past seemingly made him a logical Panthers fit, but Carolina is pivoting in a different direction.

Once viewed as a possible first-rounder, Shenault — chosen 42nd overall two years ago — battled injuries at Colorado but still attracted the Jags’ attention during their final Dave Caldwell–Doug Marrone draft. The team has since changed offensive schemes twice since that draft, adding to the degree of difficulty for the young wideout. Add a fourth scheme in three years for Shenault, who will transition to Ben McAdoo‘s offense.

Still, Shenault has topped 600 receiving yards in each of his two Jags seasons and has been used sparingly in the backfield. The 227-pound receiver’s top two yardage outputs have come against the Bengals — in 2020 and ’21, the latter a 99-yard night in a narrow loss that became more relevant because of Urban Meyer‘s postgame decisions — but he operated as an auxiliary option for Gardner Minshew and Trevor Lawrence. The Jags, however, added multiple receivers this offseason. They gave Christian Kirk an $18M-per-year deal and added Zay Jones for $8M per soon after. The team still rosters veteran Marvin Jones as well.

Marshall has missed time due to a training camp injury, though he did play in Carolina’s preseason finale. The Panthers have moved on from OC Joe Brady, who coached Marshall at LSU, and the ex-Justin Jefferson/Ja’Marr Chase supporting caster struggled as a rookie. Carolina also has ex-Baker Mayfield Cleveland target Rashard Higgins and Shi Smith at receiver. Shenault’s arrival further complicates matters for Marshall, but it will give Mayfield another intriguing option.