When you have two returning receivers who combined for 161 catches, 2289 yards and 7 TDs you generally don’t go into the draft looking to prioritize adding a wide receiver, but the Panthers are a rare example of a team that might do just that. For a start, they are expected to lose 77 catches, 851 yards and 3 TDs of production in the form of Curtis Samuel in free agency (not to mention the 200 yards and 2 TDs he added on the ground), and they have a real lack of quality depth at the position.
While they will get Omar Bayless and Keith Kirkwood back from injury, neither of them are proven NFL receiving options (Bayless has never played in an NFL game and Kirkwood has less than 250 yards receiving for his career). Besides that, they have Brandon Zylstra (164 career receiving yards), Amara Darboh (71 career receiving yards), Ishmael Hyman (34 career receiving yards) and a handful of players who are yet to catch their first NFL pass.
Given how much talk there was of the Panthers using 4 or even 5 receiver formations when Joe Brady was hired, the Panthers are likely going to need to add multiple bodies to their receiver group for 2021. With that in mind then, who are some receivers in the 2021 NFL draft who would make sense for the Panthers?
Rashod Bateman, Minnesota; 6’2 210lbs
Sep 28, 2019; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Minnesota Gophers receiver Rashod Bateman (13) pulls in a pass for a second half touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Bateman might seem an odd name to have on this list, as he looks to be drafted either late in the first round or early in the second, but he would be such an excellent fit in Carolina that it’s hard to ignore him as a possible target, especially if they end up trading back in the first round. Stylistically, he would be a great compliment to Moore and Anderson, offering a consistent option against man coverage at all levels of the field but especially underneath, allowing Moore and Anderson to focus on creating big plays down the field while also allowing Anderson to spend more time in the slot where he was most effective in 2020.
Bateman is an exceptionally fluid athlete who gets vertical in a hurry and is then able to use his elite change of direction and body control to use that to create separation underneath. He has great hands with the ability to make contested catches and to go get the ball at the catch point (something that would really help the Panthers in the red zone) and offers enough after the catch to consistently add yardage while being a home-run threat on shorter passes.
His real appeal though is in his ability to create separation, as he does a really nice job of getting off the line against press and is then able to change direction vertically at speed without loss of momentum, allowing him to create separation down the field against even the best defensive backs. He also shows a good understanding of how to create separation at the head of routes underneath, with a lovely feel for leverage and how to manipulate it. If he can continue to show this quality over an expanded route tree in the NFL he has a chance to be really, really special.
Anthony Schwartz, Auburn; 6’0 179lbs
Oct 31, 2020; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers receiver Anthony Schwartz (1) scores a touchdown against LSU Tigers safety Jordan Toles (21) during the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-427774 ORIG FILE ID: 20201031_gma_sr5_170.jpg
Robby Anderson was a highly valuable piece of the Panthers’ offense in 2020, and they will likely hope that they are able to make more of his vertical threat in 2021, but he is a pending free agent after this season and if he puts up similar numbers to 2020 again in 2021, they could struggle to retain him, especially if they are committed to DJ Moore being their #1 option long-term. With this in mind, they could look to add a similar vertical option who can replicate at least some of what Anderson offers, allowing them to create yet more match-up issues for defenses in 2021 with an ability to at least cushion the blow if he walks in 2022.
Possibly the best option in that regard outside of the first 50 picks looks to be Auburn’s Anthony Schwartz.
Anthony Schwartz is really fast, like world youth 100m record holder fast. Like 100m silver medalist at the 2018 IAAF U20 World Championships fast. That’s fast. More than just being fast, however, he also shows good hands with the ability to make catches away from his frame and with some elusiveness to go with his speed he can create havoc for defenses after the catch. He does need further work as a route runner but shows a nice understanding of how to use his speed to create leverage and has obvious value on quick-outs and wheel routes.
He isn’t the player that Robby Anderson is, but he should be able to add immediate value to an offense and could be a quality starting player with time.
Amari Rodgers, Clemson; 5’10 210lbs
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Amari Rodgers #3 of the Clemson Tigers breaks Kristian Fulton #1 of the LSU Tigers tackle during the second quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The LSU Tigers topped the Clemson Tigers, 42-25. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Of course, the Panthers’ most pressing need at receiver this offseason looks to be replacing the contribution that Curtis Samuel made in 2020, primarily from the slot. While the number of players who are able to fully replicate that skill-set are very rare; hence him being a hard player for the Panthers to retain in free agency; what the 2021 draft class does look to offer is a number of players who are able to offer a similar kind of possession target to Samuel from the slot, with the best prospects also flashing some big-play upside, and one of the best of these is Amari Rodgers.
Rodgers is another really fluid athlete with good quickness, deep speed and change of direction, as well as surprising physicality for a smaller player. He has fantastic hands with the ability to make catches away from his frame and offers a genuine threat after the catch. As a route runner, he will need to continue to add complexity and diversity to his route tree but his quickness and change of direction make him a real threat at the head of routes and he also flashes some nice subtleties that could help to elevate his game if he is able to incorporate them more consistently at the NFL level.
If the Panthers are looking for a versatile weapon from the slot in the 2021 draft, they are probably going to struggle to do better than Rodgers who based on current draft projections looks to be a potential steal early on day three.
Jaelon Darden, North Texas; 5’9 172lbs
Photo Credit: Jeff Woo/DRC
Similar to Rodgers, Darden is a player who is likely going to spend most of his time in the slot in the NFL and is another who would be a natural replacement for Samuel and the role he played in the Panthers’ offense in 2021. While he doesn’t have the same top-end speed as the likes of Samuel and Rodgers, his quickness and change of direction should allow him to be a valuable weapon for an NFL offense as something of a gadget player.
He has really good hands, with the ability to adjust to inaccurate passes and to make catches away from his frame and is arguably the best receiver in the class after the catch with great elusiveness, agility and balance. As a route runner, he flashes some really nice things in terms of manipulating leverage and create separation at the head of routes. He will need to show that he can apply these skills to a more diverse route tree at the NFL level but for somebody who looks to be available early in day three, he would offer a different option from Rodgers in the slot from a stylistic perspective while still being a quality offensive piece.
D’Wayne Eskridge, Western Michigan; 5’9 190lbs
Photo Credit: Kaytie Boomer/MLive.com
Above all else, the Panthers need to add quality receivers at good value points in the draft, with how they fit in with the Panthers’ other receivers being something of a secondary concern. While Eskridge is probably more similar to DJ Moore stylistically than Curtis Samuel or Robby Anderson, he looks to be a quality receiver who can contribute right away and who is so far going somewhat under the radar, despite an impressive showing at the Senior Bowl.
While he is unquestionably fast, his appeal is in more than just his ability to create separation vertically, as he is surprisingly physical for a player for his size and does a good job of getting quick release from press with tight footwork, and this should allow him to play either outside or in the slot. He does occasionally resort to arm catches but he shows generally good hands and is able to make plays away from his frame with some consistency, while his speed and elusiveness make him a real threat after the catch.
As a route runner, he certainly has the physical tools to create separation at different levels of the field and does flashes some high-level traits in terms of manipulating leverage to create separation, but will need to show that he can apply this to a fuller route tree and continue to add nuance. Eskridge will likely take a little time before he is able to be his best self at the NFL level, but he should be able to contribute right away and has the versatility to play in the slot or outside to give the Panthers flexibility at the position moving forwards.
Photo Credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Receiver might not be at the top of the Panthers’ list entering the draft, and there is a chance they look to use some of their cap room to add a veteran in free agency to replace at least some of Samuel’s production, but in what looks to be a very strong receiver class once again in 2021, the Panthers would be foolish not to try and add talent, especially in the middle rounds where this draft looks to be especially strong.
(Top photo via Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports)
