The top five receivers are all but set https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Christian-Miller-Jersey , who if anyone can convince the Panthers to keep six once again?" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesCat Scratch Reader homepageHorizontal - WhiteCat Scratch Readera Carolina Panthers communityFollow Cat Scratch Reader online:Follow Cat Scratch Reader on TwitterFollow Cat Scratch Reader on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchCat Scratch Reader main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsAboutPanthersOddsShopStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 Training CampCSR Film RoomReceiver fever: Assessing and predicting the Panthers’ wide receiversNew,31commentsThe top five receivers are all but set, who if anyone can convince the Panthers to keep six once again?EDTTraining camp is around the corner, and the only thing hotter than the field in Spartanburg, S.C. is the battle for the Carolina Panthers’ final roster spots at wide receiver.Ask any Panthers fan and they will tell you that this is the best crop of receivers the team has had since Steve Smith Sr. last graced the field in black and blue. Some will tell you the team hasn’t fielded a better group since the days when Jake Delhomme found defensive backs with more ease than the likes of Smith or Muhsin Muhammad,Though those sentiments echo throughout the fanbase nearly every offseason, this year they have a chance at sticking. On paper, the Panthers have an exciting blend of speed, veteran leadership, and play-making ability.The group is headlined by D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel Will Grier Jersey , two youngsters with an abundance of potential and a knack for making highlight-reel plays. The duo is set to be Cam Newton’s primary targets out wide for the foreseeable future.Behind them is a trio of veterans the coaching staff has assembled to provide leadership and chain-moving ability on third down. The team returns a more affordable Torrey Smith and the ever-reliable Jarius Wright while adding two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Hogan.Wright lived up to his moniker of “Mr. Third Down” in his first season with the team by leading the team’s wide receivers in targets, total receptions, and first down catches on third down. What is even more impressive is that over 30 percent of his total receptions came on third down and he moved the chains on 76.9 percent of those catches. Wright also had the highest catch percentage of any wide receiver and just three drops on 59 targets. He isn’t a game-breaker, but his reliability and aptitude for getting open on third down all but assures him a roster spot.The fourth and fifth receiver spots appear to be locked down by Smith and Hogan. Smith didn’t see the field much and didn’t play particularly well when he did. However, taking a pay cut to give Carolina cap flexibility exhibited the kind of team-first behavior the coaching staff values. I wouldn’t necessarily call him a lock, but he has a good of chance as any to make the final roster.Hogan comes in with high expectations after one of his best seasons with the New England Patriots culminated with his second Super Bowl ring. The 6-foot-1-inch receiver is the tallest wideout on the roster and has a knack for making drive saving plays. Last season, on downs with 10+ yards to go, Hogan caught 24 balls on 33 targets for 339 yards and two touchdowns. He is also a force to be reckoned with on routine first downs. If Hogan was targeted on 1st & 10, you could almost guarantee the result would be a fresh set of downs. In those situations, Hogan averaged over 13 yards per target https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Greg-Little-Jersey , good for 10 first downs on 17 receptions.With the top five receivers pretty much set, there may be room for one more pass catcher to round out the roster. The Panthers have initially kept six receivers each of the last three seasons. The last time they didn’t roll with six was in 2015 when they kept five but also had Joe Webb on the roster as an emergency option. If the Panthers are to keep six once again, the most likely competitors for that spot will be former AAF receiver Rashad Ross, seventh round pick Terry Godwin, and journeyman Aldrick Robinson.Godwin’s selection had the fanbase excited as most felt he was a steal in the draft’s final round. The former Georgia Bulldog possesses reliable hands, good route running ability, experience at punt returner, and enough speed to get the job done. However, his slender frame and the team’s logjam in the slot are threats to his chances at making the opening roster. Ross seems to be the most likely candidate to fill out the receiving room after leading the AAF in receiving yards before the league’s demise. During his time with the Arizona Hotshots, Ross relied on the effortless speed that has long been his calling card. The former Arizona State Sun Devil averaged over 16 yards a catch and recorded a reception of 25+ yards in six of his eight games for the Hotshots last season.After letting Damiere Byrd walk this offseason Brian Burns Jersey , the Panthers have a void to fill at kick returner. Ross has hung around the NFL circuit due to his ability on special teams. In 2015, Ross returned a kick 101 yards for a touchdown, recording a top speed of 21.5 MPH along the way. If he can show the Panthers’ brass that he hasn’t lost a step at age 29, he will be in a good position to make the final roster.Final Roster Prediction: D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel, Jarius Wright, Chris Hogan, Torrey Smith, Rashad Ross — (Terry Godwin to Practice Squad)Despite whoever wins the battle for the last spot or two at receiver, the Panthers will start the season with their best group of pass catchers in years. The development of Moore and Samuel will be key in elevating the Panthers offense and making life easier for Cam and his surgically repaired shoulder. If No. 1 can get the ball into the hands of his playmakers on time and accurately Ryan Kalil Color Rush Jersey , Carolina is poised to have one of the most electric and exciting offenses in the league this season. The veteran wide receiver confirmed suspicions in a video on Twitter." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteCat Scratch Readera Carolina Panthers communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsAboutPanthersOddsShopStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCSR Film RoomFiled under:Carolina Panthers free agency 2019Devin Funchess will not return to the Carolina PanthersNew,130commentsThe veteran wide receiver confirmed suspicions in a video on Twitter. ESTShareTweetShareShareDevin Funchess will not return to the Carolina PanthersPhoto by Grant Halverson/Getty ImagesDevin Funchess tweeted out a video he recorded for the Cameo app. In that video he referred to himself as a “former Carolina Panther and now a free agent looking for a new team.”The general expectation was that Funchess would not be back next year after his playing time was heavily reduced in the final weeks of the season. His season ended with him being a healthy scratch for the team’s season finale against the New Orleans Saints. This video all but confirms the speculation- we’ve seen the last of Devin Funchess in a Carolina Panthers uniform. In his four seasons with Carolina, Funchess hauled in 161 passes for 2233 yards and 21 touchdowns. His best season came in 2017, when he took the number one wide receiver spot from Kelvin Benjamin and amassed 840 yards and 8 touchdowns on 63 catches. His numbers declined heavily in 2018 with his playing time decreasing as the season wore on. He caught just three passes for 33 yards in the team’s final five games. His departure means some combination of D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel will be the Panthers’ top options at wideout, barring a major offseason acquisition.