Report: Carolina Panthers sign UFL receiver Daewood Davis

Daewood was spectacular in the new UFL — the spring football merger of the XFL and USFL. He played for the Memphis Showboats, catching 41 passes for 446 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games.

Meanwhile, the Panthers are trying to build around quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. Last season, the Panthers fielded the worst passing team in the NFL. And with 62 sacks, Young was the most harassed quarterback in the league.

Carolina selected former South Carolina star Xavier Legette in the first round. He should give Young a reliable receiving option. Then the Panthers addressed other areas in the draft. The Panthers selected former Texas running back Jonathon Brooks in the second round. He also was the first running back picked in the draft. Then the Panthers added Brooks’ Texas teammate, Ja’Tavion Sanders, a tight end.

Meanwhile, the Panthers traded for Steelers wideout Diontae Johnson.

In Davis, Carolina gets speed. He started his college career at Oregon, a program that requires its receivers to be super fast. Davis then transferred to Western Kentucky, where he completed his college career.

Last year, the Miami Dolphins added Davis as an undrafted free agent. And his name became known for an unfortunate injury. In a late August preseason game against the Jaguars, Davis hit head-to-head with a Miami defender. Davis suffered an apparent neck injury. Athletic trainers mobilized his neck and took him off the field via stretcher. Both teams decided against playing the rest of the game.

The Dolphins cut Davis at the end of August. He ended up in the UFL, where he made the All-UFL team, which was released earlier this week. He also happens to be the first UFL player to sign with an NFL team. The league has finished its regular season and now is in playoff mode.

The Panthers finished the final session of OTAs, Thursday. They then report back next week for mandatory minicamp.