Every wide receiver set to hit the open market in a few weeks will be tied to the Carolina Panthers at some point. That’s just the reality of how much work needs to be done at that position in order to give Bryce Young a fighting chance in year two.
In a recent “bold moves” article by Aaron Schatz of ESPN, he calls for the Panthers to sign the best wide receiver available. Shocker, right?
“Young quarterbacks need a top receiver to help them develop. The Bears knew this when they asked for DJ Moore in last year’s trade with the Panthers. Now the Panthers need to find a receiver to serve as Bryce Young’s top target. It’s hard to determine just how good or bad Young is without giving him more talent to throw the ball to.
“We don’t quite know who the best available wide receivers will be because of franchise tags, but someone like Higgins or Michael Pittman Jr. would be a huge addition to the Panthers’ offense, and they should have the cap space to make that contract work.”
Late Friday night, the Cincinnati Bengals used the franchise tag on Tee Higgins, meaning we can go ahead and cross him off the board. Michael Pittman Jr., however, is set to become an unrestricted free agent unless they are willing to pay him the same $21.8M in 2024 on a franchise tag.
If for some reason the Colts don’t use the tag and he does indeed hit the open market, it makes all the sense in the world for the Panthers to heavily pursue the 26-year-old. This past season, Pittman reeled in 109 receptions for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns. He’s a consistent, proven playmaker that would give Young a big target (6’4″, 223 lbs) to throw it up to and would possibly open up even more space for Adam Thielen.
