The Carolina Panthers are going to look vastly different on the offensive side of the ball in 2023 than in years past. The team’s reshaping on that side of the ball started when running back Christian McCaffrey was traded to the San Francisco 49ers ahead of the trade deadline in November and continued this offseason.
Wide receiver D.J. Moore was traded to the Chicago Bears as part of the package to land the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Panthers used that selection on Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with hopes of him becoming the new face of the franchise.
With Moore out of town, the opportunity exists for someone to step into a more prominent role. One of the players with a chance to showcase their skills is wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. The second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft hasn’t done much yet in his career, but is not worried about the past; he is focused on the present, getting mentally ready for what is to come.
“I’d say one word to describe it is just clear – clear-minded, just ready to take on what this year’s going to bring,” Marshall said. “Just taking it one day at a time, really. Just grinding it out with the team, getting work right with the scheme and QBs. I’m ready to go.”
The LSU product will have some competition for targets this season as the Panthers brought in multiple pass catchers to upgrade their aerial attack. In the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the team selected Ole Miss wide receiver Jonathan Mingo.
DJ Chark, heading into Year 6 and Adam Thielen, a 10-year veteran, were both signed in free agency and will bring much-needed experience to the group. Despite being the older statesman, Thielen revealed that he is learning from Marshall while providing a positive review for his new teammate.
“I’ve been so impressed from him off the field as well as on-field; he’s got a lot of talent,” Thielen said. “Not only does he have a lot of talent, he’s a great kid – I shouldn’t say kid, but I’m probably 10 years older – but he’s a great guy that comes to work every single day with a smile on his face. He’s been so great in the meeting room, and then being on the field with him, there’s a lot of potential there. And I’m excited to be a part of it.
“I think he’s excited to have a fresh start and just to be out there just playing the game that he loves. You can see it; you can see it out there in the huddle. I can pick up on those things. I can tell when a guy loves the game of football, and he’s one of those guys I’m just excited to be around. Honestly, I’m learning from him. It’s been fun to see how he runs some routes and learn a little bit from him as well.”
The Panthers’ offense has a chance to surprise some people in 2023. If Young is as good as advertised, this unit is going to be able to move the ball. They have a strong ground game led by free agent signing Miles Sanders as well for Young to lean on.
Marshall has some personal goals set for this season, but he opted to keep those numbers to himself. He did reveal that he is shooting for the stars, as he has a real chance to break out in his third season with the team. Especially with the new coaching staff led by Frank Reich looking to get him more involved down the field.
“I think it’s just a matter of him getting more play time and making those plays consistently,” Reich said. “I think we saw that last year with the reps that he got, the catches that he had, the big plays that he had, that he shows the capacity to kind of be a big play guy. So the next step with every player is always more reps, more plays, more confidence, where it’s like, ‘Hey, give me the ball.'”
