Panthers WR battle in training camp will be the ultimate litmus test for who this team wants to be with some tough decisions ahead

The Carolina Panthers wrapped up the latest phase of the offseason program last week with mandatory minicamp and will have a break before returning in late July / early August for the start of training camp.

That's when the roster battles start getting real and the pads fully start to come on. Which eventually leads us to roster cuts and the formation of the 53-man roster.

All of this to say, tough decision are ahead for the front office and the coaching staff, and the position in the most interesting position is easily at wide receiver.

Carolina has two for sure roster locks at the position in Xavier Legette and first-round rookie Tetairoa McMillan. Veteran slot specialist Adam Thielen stands on some solid ground as well for the upcoming season.

Behind those three starters is where things start to get complicated in the Panthers' WR room and the decisions that are made can help determine what kind of team the Panthers want to be in 2025.

Panthers 2025 WR Battle Overview

Last season, the Panthers opted to keep seven wide receivers on the initial 53-man roster in Legette, Thielen, Diontae Johnson, Jonathan Mingo, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, David Moore, and Jalen Coker.

While speaking with reporters last week at minicamp, head coach Dave Canales noted determining the final spots in the room will be a "very difficult" process and it'll come down to who is showing overall team versatility.

"Special teams is going to be such a huge piece of that puzzle. How can these guys help us in the coverage units? Can they help us as a returner?" Canales explained. "That’s the part where we get to challenge our guys to find a role, take this thing seriously. You’re not here just to catch passes. We only get so many helmets on game day, so we need all of you guys to contribute in different ways."

So, let's look at the field and break it down into two categories: the vets and the youngsters.

The Vets

In this area really we're looking at three players in particular: Hunter Renfrow, David Moore, and Dan Chiesna.

Starting with Renfrow, the Panthers signed the five-year Carolina-native back in late April after taking a year off from the NFL. Renfrow shared he was dealing with ulcerative colitis following his release from the Raiders. He's a savvy route runner, locker room leader, and has made significant impacts on special teams before.