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Wanted to take a step back and look at how the Panthers' WR room has evolved over the past three seasons... especially now that Bryce finally has a corps with defined roles and actual upside heading into 2025. It's been a journey from stopgap veterans to a room that actually feels built for a modern NFL offense. We've come a long way from DJ Chark and TMJ. Speaking of... 2023: Inseparable WRs: Adam Thielen (slot), DJ Chark (X), Terrace Marshall Jr. (Y), Jonathan Mingo (rookie), Laviska Shenault, Ihmir Smith-Marsette What Happened: Bryce's rookie year. Thielen was productive but heavily targeted out of necessity. Chark couldn't stay healthy, and TMJ didn't break out (again). Mingo was raw and got bounced between roles. Shenault was a gadget guy. ISM was a special teams guy that eventually took Shenault's role. No clear WR1, no deep speed threat, and nothing consistent beyond Thielen. Bryce was throwing into tight windows constantly. TMJ started at Y but was inactive after Shenault returned. Mingo was drafted by Reich/Fitterer, while TMJ was a Rhule/Hurney holdover - so Mingo got more looks down the stretch as a possible possession WR2. Verdict: Ultimately, this was a group of veteran placeholders and miscast youth that had no real identity and was built for survival rather than development. 2024: The Reset WRs: Adam Thielen (slot), Diontae Johnson (X), Xavier Legette (Y, rookie), Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Coker (rookie), David Moore What Changed: New leadership brought in two guy to try and provide some juice to a group that was at the bottom of the league in separation. They traded for Diontae to play the X and up to #32 to draft XL as a long term Y with WR1 upside. Mingo backed up the slot and rotated outside before being dealt. Coker, a UDFA, started flashing early doing what was being asked of Mingo. Diontae was moved midseason after attitude issues. Mingo was dealt to Dallas with a 7th in exchange for a 2025 3rd - insane value considering Coker's emergence and what other WR trades have netted teams. Coker stepped into WR3 duties after the trades and held it down until Thielen returned from injury. XL earned praise for his toughness playing thru injury but had issues with drops that frustrated fans. Hopefully, his timing with Bryce improves in 2025. Coker filled that power slot/possession role the team hoped Mingo would grow into, and he did it with more consistency. Verdict: The room got younger and more intentional. Diontae and Mingo weren't fits (the former due to attitude, the latter due to scheme), and once they were out, you could see the group trending upward. 2025: Real ID Projected WRs: Tetairoa McMillan (X), Xavier Legette (Y), Adam Thielen (slot), Jalen Coker, Jimmy Horn Jr (rookie)., and a battle for WR6 (David Moore, Hunter Renfrow, Jacolby George) The Vision: TMac was the pick at #8 overall and finally gives Bryce a real X with size, body control, and a presence in the red zone. XL gets to stay at the Y where he is a better fit until he develops further. AT becomes the vet/mentor rather than having to be WR1 as a slot receiver in his mid-30s. Coker offers rotational size and reliability to go along with his excellent hands. Jimmy Horn Jr. brings some of the speed and agility that Diontae brought last year, but with value as a returner as well. WR6 could come down to who brings more value on ST. It wouldn't surprise me to see Renfrow stashed on the PS. Verdict: Finally feels like a WR room built for Bryce instead of just giving him a few guys and demanding that he make them a top-10 unit. It has structure... size on the outside, RAC potential, vets inside, and defined depth roles. We've still got plenty of questions waiting to be answered: Who wins the WR6 spot? Does XL take the next step in year two? Does TMac hold up to expectations for a top-8 draft pick? Is the room truly improved or does it still lack a true separator amongst them? Still.. it's pretty cool stepping back and seeing how things have evolved over the last few seasons. -
By mrcompletely11 · Posted
If anyone is touting Tremble with his career 85 recs 782 yards 9tds, Horn who has played around 50% of his games, and BC a backup lineman as "hitting in the draft" I think that shows ones lack of understanding of what "hitting in the draft" actually is. And if that is what you come out of the draft with 11 picks then its probably a factual thing to say that this draft wasnt good. Like at all. -
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