The Carolina Panthers are going to look vastly different on the offensive side of the ball in 2023 than they did in 2022. Not only do they have a new head coach in Frank Reich, but they are also going to have new faces in about half of the starting spots.
There will be a new starting quarterback for all three starters from last season, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker are all elsewhere. Running back D’Onta Foreman has been replaced by Miles Sanders. Carolina acquired the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from the Chicago Bears but it cost them wide receiver D.J. Moore in addition to four draft picks.
That is a lot of turnover from one year to the next, but everyone will be working with a clean slate with the new coaching staff. While the No. 1 pick in the draft will almost assuredly be used on a quarterback, the rest of the picks will then be used to upgrade the roster around him.
The Panthers don’t have a ton of draft capital this year, as they possess six picks. But, all six of those picks are in the first five rounds, so they will have a chance to add some solid talent to the roster.
One position that certainly needs some help is wide receiver. With Moore gone, there aren’t any holdovers to get overly excited about. Adam Thielen and DJ Chark were signed in free agency, but the team shouldn’t stop there.
Carolina would be a prime landing spot for a receiver in Round 2, but if the board doesn’t shake that way, they have other options. One could be TCU wide receiver Derius Davis, who the Panthers were having in for a top-30 visit.
Davis is an explosive athlete that is dangerous with the ball in his hands. There are some concerns about his size, as he is 5’8” and weighs 165 pounds with short arms and small hands. But, at the next level, he could find success as a slot receiver given his agility and foot speed.
At the very least, whoever drafts Davis would be getting an impact player on special teams. He is a true difference-maker as a return man, whether it is kickoffs or punts. Davis had five punt returns for touchdowns with TCU and one kickoff, winning the Big 12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Year award.
A dynamic playmaker, there is a place for Davis in the NFL. The Panthers could certainly use some more juice on their offense and special teams, making Davis an intriguing target. He can make an impact on special teams early on while continuing to learn and develop as a receiver.
Punt returns are where the Panthers could use Davis immediately. They were 23rd in total punt return yards in 2022 and 27th in yards per punt return, both numbers he would help improve immediately.
