After mortgaging their future to trade up for Bryce Young, now it’s time for the Carolina Panthers to start getting a return on their investment. Changes were made to the coaching staff, with Dave Canales being tasked with getting the most out of the QB who turns 23 in July, but more talent is needed on the roster.
Related: NFL QB Rankings: See where Bryce Young lands after his rookie season
Issues with protection and a lack of playmaking receivers plagued the Panthers during Young’s rookie season. Coaching can help improve these areas, but as mentioned, it’s become clear that the Panthers need an injection of talent.
Yet, after trading up to select Young last year, the Panthers don’t own a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. This means that if there’s a position Carolina needs immediate production from, the Panthers may have to find a proven player who’s already shown he can play at a high level.
NFL insider links Tee Higgins to Carolina Panthers
Last season saw Bryce Young learn he could rely on Adam Thielen to get a first down when necessary, but when it came to making big plays downfield, the Carolina Panthers didn’t have much to work with. Not that their offensive line provided much time for such activities, but that’s another story for another day.
When it comes to identifying 1A talent, the Panthers hoped Terrace Marshall Jr. could develop into a dominant receiver, but the 23-year-old former second-round pick hasn’t caught on in the pros.
The same goes for DJ Chark, who was brought in on a one-year contract, hoping his rare blend of size and speed could lead to big plays. Yet, Chark hasn’t been able to recapture his Pro Bowl form from 2019.
This leaves the Panthers largely headed back to the drawing board, with Thielen and Jonathan Mingo leading the depth chart heading into the offseason, but there’s a sense more help is needed.
Arguably the best free agent receiver available is Tee Higgins, and the Cincinnati Bengals, who will also likely be paying Ja’Marr Chase, may have other priorities to focus on this offseason.
In Albert Breer’s latest on Sports Illustrated, he mentions the Panthers, who he thinks will try to add a “high-end weapon” for Young, while suggesting Higgins as a possible fit.
However, it may not be as easy as making the Bengals free agent an offer he can’t refuse. Breer notes that he anticipates Cincinnati placing the franchise tag on Higgins, leaving the possibility for their two-time 1,000-yard receiver to be traded to Carolina.
If there’s even a chance of the Bengals letting Higgins go, the Panthers would appear to be a great fit for the 6-foot-4 receiver who just turned 25 in January.
He also noted Carolina’s Brian Burns as a possible tag-and-trade candidate due to the inability to find a long-term contract with their star pass-rusher.
