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LSU Tigers receiver Malik Nabers. SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK

With a loaded '24 WR class, Panthers need to find a way back into first round

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 11/27/23

The Carolina Panthers have repeatedly stated that they are all-in on rookie quarterback Bryce Young — a notion that’s a little tough to believe since they traded what would have been Young’s best weapon to the Chicago Bears to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in March.

But if they are indeed committed to Young even after firing head coach Frank Reich on Monday just 11 games into his first season with the team, then it’s imperative that they find a way to grab him a legitimate No. 1 weapon.

Carolina is a mess at receiver. The group has the lowest yards per reception average in the NFL (8.9) and the second-fewest receptions of 20 or more yards (21).

The Panthers receivers also have the seventh-fewest receiving yards (2,245) and the eighth-fewest first-down receptions (111), and they’re tied for the sixth-fewest receptions of 40 or more yards (four) and eighth-fewest touchdown catches (11).

Had the Panthers kept their 2024 first-rounder, they’d be picking somewhere in the top three where Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. — the consensus No. 1 receiver on the board — would likely be available.

The last WRs drafted top 3 or better in recent NFL draft history were Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson & Calvin Johnson. Marvin Harrison Jr is very similar to them in build and talent. If the Bears draft top 3 thanks to the Panthers you have to take him.
— Gregory Bell II (@BobbyBooshay713) November 25, 2023

General manager Scott Fitterer is presumably kicking himself for missing out on the opportunity to pair a 21-year-old generational receiver with his 22-year-old franchise QB.

While Harrison Jr. is a pipe dream, the rest of the WR class has plenty of top-tier talent, which is why the Panthers should offer up defensive tackle Brian Burns to get back into the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, where as many as seven wideouts could be taken. That would match the NFL record set in 2005.

Carolina received interest in Burns around the trade deadline from several teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers.

Two years ago, the Los Angeles Rams offered the Panthers two first-round picks for Burns — which hard they accepted, they would be picking 14th in the draft based on where the Rams are in the standings as of today.

Losing out on Harrison Jr. is a gut punch, but walking away with either LSU’s Malik Nabers, Washington’s Rome Odunze, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, Texas’ Xavier Worthy or Adonai Mitchell or Florida State’s Keon Coleman isn’t a bad consolation prize.

Nabers leads the NCAA in receiving yards (1,546) and is tied for second in touchdowns (14), while Odunze ranks fourth (1,326) and third (13) in the same categories, respectively. Coleman is tied for ninth in the country in touchdowns (11), and Mitchell ranks in the top 20 with nine.

Any of the six seem like better options than Carolina’s current top two receivers, Adam Thielen and Jonathan Mingo.

While the depth of WR talent in Round 2 isn’t terrible — Florida State’s Johnny Wilson, LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr., Oregon’s Troy Franklin, South Carolina’s Xavier Legette, Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk and Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley — it’s clearly not on the same level as the Round 1 prospects.

It’s clear Young needs better weapons to throw to, and the Panthers would be remiss if they didn’t pull out all the stops to get him one. The last thing anyone in Carolina wants is to look back in a few years at the 2024 draft class that was loaded with premier wide receivers and wonder what might have been.

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