Free agent WR targets?

[NAS]

For all the excitement around our young receivers, the Panthers currently rank dead last in receiving score per PFF.  

Thread is specific to free agent targets at wide receiver to help this offense. Here is a potential list of targets

#1 Tee Higgins.
He came on strong as a rookie and had back to back 1,000 yd seasons despite being a #2 to Chase.  However, his production has fallen off significantly last two years, partly due to injuries. I am not sure if he will be asking for #1 receiver money but I don’t think he’s worth it based on recent production. 

#2.  Chris Godwin

Coming off an injury but has familiarity with Canales and his system. He should come cheaper and would add more speed and experience to this receiving core.  
 

Anyone else? 
 

Edited December 4, 2024 by NAS

[therealmjl]

 

[*FreeFua*]

Outside of Higgins it really isn’t a great group. Higgins is going to cash in because of it. 

Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, Brandin Cooks, Darius Slayton… guys that are a lot better than what we currently have with David Moore but you’d like to see them do better 

Which is why I’d like to see them go WR in round 1. Bond or Burden.

I think there could be a few guys traded this offseason. I could see the Seahawks trading Metcalf this offseason. 

Edited December 4, 2024 by *FreeFua*

[Stingray3030]

12 minutes ago, NAS said:

For all the excitement around our young receivers, the Panthers currently rank dead last in receiving score per PFF.  

Thread is specific to free agent targets at wide receiver to help this offense. Here is a potential list of targets

#1 Tee Higgins.
He came on strong as a rookie and had back to back 1,000 yd seasons despite being a #2 to Chase.  However, his production has fallen off significantly last two years, partly due to injuries. I am not sure if he will be asking for #1 receiver money but I don’t think he’s worth it based on recent production. 

#2.  Chris Godwin

Coming off an injury but has familiarity with Canales and his system. He should come cheaper and would add more speed and experience to this receiving core.  
 

Anyone else? 
 

I love Tee and would love to have him here, but not sure we wanna pay him $20-23M a year given our situation - or if he wants more.  Godwin at a discount I would.  No other FA WR moves the needle in my opinion and just ties up more money that we need elsewhere.  We have quite a few decisions to make for our own FA's:

Xavier Woods, Andy Dalton, Brady Christensen, Tommy Tremble, Jordan Fuller, Johnny Hekker, Eddy Piniero, JJ Jansen, Sam Franklin, David Moore, Michael Jackson, Raheem Blackshear, Jalen Coker, Cade Mays, DeShawn Williams

Plus guys expiring in 2026 that we may wanna resign now which may or may not impact our cap: DJ Wonnum, Jaycee Horn, Taylor Moton

Plus guys we should be cutting and taking a hit:  Miles Sanders, others?

[Stingray3030]

4 minutes ago, *FreeFua* said:

Outside of Higgins it really isn’t a great group. Higgins is going to cash in because of it. 

Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, Brandin Cooks, Darius Slayton… guys that are a lot better than what we currently have with David Moore but you’d like to see them do better 

Which is why I’d like to see them go WR in round 1. Bond or Burden.

I think there could be a few guys traded this offseason. I could see the Seahawks trading Metcalf this offseason. The Jets possibly trading Wilson (I bet Houston would be all over that). 

I would love to see our 2nd pick in the 1st RD be a WR like those 2 guys - first pick has to be DL, EDGE, or CB for me.  I prefer Abdul Carter.  If we end up with a top 3 pick we could work a few trades and end up with 2 firsts.

[NAS]

5 minutes ago, Stingray3030 said:

I would love to see our 2nd pick in the 1st RD be a WR like those 2 guys

Do you mean our second round pick? 

[*FreeFua*]

4 minutes ago, Stingray3030 said:

I love Tee and would love to have him here, but not sure we wanna pay him $20-23M a year given our situation - or if he wants more.  Godwin at a discount I would.  No other FA WR moves the needle in my opinion and just ties up more money that we need elsewhere.  We have quite a few decisions to make for our own FA's:

Xavier Woods, Andy Dalton, Brady Christensen, Tommy Tremble, Jordan Fuller, Johnny Hekker, Eddy Piniero, JJ Jansen, Sam Franklin, David Moore, Michael Jackson, Raheem Blackshear, Jalen Coker, Cade Mays, DeShawn Williams

Plus guys expiring in 2026 that we may wanna resign now which may or may not impact our cap: DJ Wonnum, Jaycee Horn, Taylor Moton

Plus guys we should be cutting and taking a hit:  Miles Sanders, others?

Coker isn’t an FA

The only person from that group I’d overly care about bringing back is Cade Mays and maybe Christensen just so the OL can continue doing what they’ve been doing chemistry wise 

Woods would be fine but I wouldn’t overpay. This team needs to be realistic this offseason and realize we’re not playing for a SB next year. 

Keep the OL together. Get Young a WR or two. Then focus on defense but do not overpay for guys just because we need to fill holes. If Young ends up being our franchise QB then take the approach that our first realistic competitive year starts in 2026

[NAS]

It just makes me even more pissed that Fitterer traded DJ Moore

8 minutes ago, Stingray3030 said:

I love Tee and would love to have him here, but not sure we wanna pay him $20-23M a year given our situation - or if he wants more.  Godwin at a discount I would.  No other FA WR moves the needle in my opinion and just ties up more money that we need elsewhere.

I would take Higgins or Godwin at $23MM a year but I'm afraid they'll want more.  

[*FreeFua*]

10 minutes ago, NAS said:

It just makes me even more pissed that Fitterer traded DJ Moore

I would take Higgins or Godwin at $23MM a year but I'm afraid they'll want more.  

I wouldn’t pay Godwin anything close to that coming off of a season ending ankle injury 

Godwin has also torn his ACL previously 

I feel like he’ll stay in Tampa and give them a slight discount but he’s not the guy I’m making our first big WR move for 

[MHS831]

We need a #1--I get that, but in terms of the cap and looking for a bargain, I like to find a gem in the mud instead of paying top jewelry store prices.  When I look at the options, one guy who I liked coming out of college and he is a "type" we really don't have, was just traded to the Falcons before the season and blew out his knee in camp.  Rondale Moore.  He will be 25 and had a 500 yard season at 22.  Has not been in great places (Arizona, Atlanta) and he is the type of WR who could make plays--not sure what his recovery situation is.

Higgins is my other answer, but he is not a #1 and will want #1 money, imo.  Have not really researched it yet, so just speculating.

[Zaximus]

Elijah Moore?  I feel he was up and coming but then the Jets were inconsistent with Wilson, Rodgers came in and had him traded to get his own people in there, and we know what he's dealt with with the Browns.  He's only 24 as well.

[NAS]

1 minute ago, Zaximus said:

Elijah Moore?  I feel he was up and coming but then the Jets were inconsistent with Wilson, Rodgers came in and had him traded to get his own people in there, and we know what he's dealt with with the Browns.  He's only 24 as well.

Good #2 or #3 option for depth 

[Zaximus]

Just now, NAS said:

Good #2 or #3 option for depth 

Yeah and I feel a potential to break out, may be a decent option.

[NAS]

1 minute ago, Zaximus said:

Yeah and I feel a potential to break out, may be a decent option.

Agreed, at this point I feel like the chips are in to try and develop XL into a #1 but his catching ability is concerning. Can we trade back for DJ Moore? Lol

Edited December 4, 2024 by NAS