Photo: USA Today Images
Following the unfortunate season-ending ACL injury to Kelvin Benjamin, the Carolina Panthers are suddenly in a bind at the wide receiver position.
Benjamin was supposed to be Cam Newton’s go-to guy this season after bursting onto the scene as a rookie in 2014 with 73 receptions, 1,003 yards and nine touchdowns. Now that he’s out of the picture until the 2016 season, the Panthers must explore other options.
At this time, rookie Devin Funchess will be thrown into the fire as a starter, likely opposite Jerricho Cotchery or Philly Brown, with veteran Tedd Ginn as an undesirable fall-back option. Neither Brown nor Cotchery is what you’d consider a cornerstone player, and Funchess is still extremely raw.
Thankfully for the Panthers, there are actually some decent options still available in free agency. With that in mind, the following players are worth bringing in for a workout and physical as Carolina scrambles to find someone who can replace the production it lost when Benjamin went down.
Wes Welker
Teams have likely been scared off by Welker’s concussion history, based on the lack of interest this offseason. However, the scrappy slot specialist has been cleared by doctors for football, and he’s itching to play.
In just eight starts last season with the Denver Broncos, he caught 49 passes for 464 yards and two touchdowns, and it was just two years ago that he hauled in 10 touchdowns.
One of the most productive receivers in the league when healthy, Welker would inject much-needed life into the Panthers passing offense.
Reggie Wayne
Like Welker, Wayne hasn’t received much real interest this offseason, despite rumors to the contrary. Teams are intent on developing their young talent, rather than bringing in an older veteran on his last legs. However, in this case the Panthers don’t have that option.
It’s been a couple of seasons since Wayne was at the top of his game, but he did manage to catch 64 passes for 779 yards and two touchdowns last year as a complementary player with the Indianapolis Colts. Adding Wayne would be a great idea for the Panthers, as his prowess as a route-runner and student of the game would be a great resource for the rookie Funchess.
Brandon Lloyd
Newton has a gun and likes to take shots downfield. Lloyd, even still at the age of 34, can torch most defensive backs. He showed off his speed last season with the San Francisco 49ers, averaging 21 yards per catch in limited action, including a dynamic 80-yard touchdown grab against the St. Louis Rams.
Lloyd finished the season with just 14 receptions for 294 yards but proved he still has plenty left in his tank for another season in the NFL. Known for his ability to make stunning catches on balls most guys wouldn’t think of hauling in, he’d be a nice addition this year for the receiver-needy Panthers.
Robert Meachem
Meachem, like Lloyd, isn’t an every-down receiver, but his ability to get past defensive backs for huge plays down the field would be an asset for the Panthers. Throughout his seven-year career he’s made a name for himself as a reliable deep threat, averaging 16.4 yards per reception.
After slowly phasing him out the past couple of seasons, the New Orleans Saints chose not to re-sign Meachem this offseason. They made a commitment to develop their young talent, but he still has something to offer as a rotational player.
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