Panthers sign Hunter Renfrow

[Jay Roosevelt]

1 hour ago, Byrdman4real said:

Exactly what I'm thinking, but might keep 7 on final cuts, then place one on PS to get down to 6 active

The upside to signing Renfrow now is that, even if we end up cutting him, if we get into the season and someone goes down we'll have a solid veteran option we can bring in who already knows the offense and can step in right away.

[WarPanthers89]

I hope he shows out. If he’s healthy (the reason I believe he took the time). He can be our second vet guy who can contribute. We will definitely keep 6 Wr this year. XL, Tmac, Adam T, Coker, Renfrow, and Horn JR (contributing on special teams returning) is a good upgrade and solid WR group top to bottom as long as the young guys pan out  

[MHS831]

Imagine where we'd be if AT retired and an UDFA had not secured a roster spot and played well.

[TheSpecialJuan]

https://www.panthers.com/news/for-hunter-renfrow-this-second-chance-is-about-more-than-football-ulcerative-colitis

Nice piece by DGantt 

 

Quote

He didn't play last season, an absence from football that was noticeable for a former Pro Bowler who was still at the age when he could have been at his physical prime.

But he was far from anything resembling his physical prime, often leaving him without the energy to do much at all.

Renfrow said that the challenges he's dealt with stemmed from a diagnosis of the autoimmune condition ulcerative colitis, which had left him with weight loss, fatigue, and high fevers.

 

[CRA]

24 minutes ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

https://www.panthers.com/news/for-hunter-renfrow-this-second-chance-is-about-more-than-football-ulcerative-colitis

Nice piece by DGantt 

 

 

I didn't know about his health issue.  That sort of makes what happened w/ the Raiders make a lot of sense and why he sort if went totally MIA last offseason w/ no workouts/looks. 

[tukafan21]

53 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

Imagine where we'd be if AT retired and an UDFA had not secured a roster spot and played well.

I can tell you EXACTLY where we'd be, as it would have been one of two things to happen.

DK Metcalf would be a Panther right now as we'd have made sure to beat out whatever offers were made for him as we'd have that desperate for WR help.

Or we'd have still drafted T-Mac but probably would have needed to trade up to get him, as instead of the world thinking we were taking Carter or another defender, everyone with half a brain would have known T-Mac was our top target and some team would have bluffed another trading up to get him to get us to give up picks for him.

[theinstrumental]

12 hours ago, CRA said:

I mean, he is a slot technician.  That's what he does.  So, in a good offense, you would be trotting him out there on 3rd downs and situationally.....to not take what they give him but to move chains.  It's a niche. 

AT hasn't threatened defenses in years. 

Last time we saw Renfrow on the field he averaged..... 6 yards YAC per catch. 

Adam Thielen last year averaged....2 yards in YAC per catch last year. 

I still contend in reality, AT isn't a slot WR.  Not in reality.  He is an aging rec TE.  And those aren't the same thing.  AT simply can't generate quick separation or provide YAC.    

YAC isn't the only way to be a threat. Thielen's ADOT was 11 yards last year. He's stressing a defense beyond its first level.

Renfrow's 2023 ADOT was 5.6 yards. He's settling into a soft spot under a zone and the defense bets that they can rally and tackle before he gets to the marker. That kind of popgun slot receiver play is fine, but we should hope to be able to find that ability in someone who can also bring another skill, whether that's a vertical threat, or some jet sweep/screen game YAC  ability, or even just being very large and blocking well. Every time we trot Renfrow out there, we limit what the defense has to worry about.

[TD alt]

On 4/28/2025 at 1:52 AM, rodeo said:

He was absolutely fantastic... in 2021. Then in 2022 he got his brain scrambled on a slant route and sucked the rest of his career until he was cut.

It's definitely worth bringing him in to see if a miracle happened and the year off cures CTE, that would be great if it happens, but I don't expect much.

 

On 4/28/2025 at 9:50 AM, ImfromClayton said:

I fully agree with this, but there's no curing CTE. It's irreversible, and progressive. 

But also keep in mind his timeline went from John Gruden (and the organization's 2nd playoff season since 2002) to Josh McDaniels. McDaniels has been an abject failure as a head coach everywhere he's been. 

Ulcerative Colitis is not CTE. 

[rodeo]

41 minutes ago, TD alt said:

 

Ulcerative Colitis is not CTE. 

He started 2022 off well, got a concussion that kept him out for a month, and when he returned he sucked for the next year+. Maybe he got a butt ulcer during that time too but it seems pretty clear what actually happened.

[TD alt]

5 hours ago, rodeo said:

He started 2022 off well, got a concussion that kept him out for a month, and when he returned he sucked for the next year+. Maybe he got a butt ulcer during that time too but it seems pretty clear what actually happened.

Ulcerative Colitis does not make you feel good. Look it up.

[CRA]

9 hours ago, theinstrumental said:

YAC isn't the only way to be a threat. Thielen's ADOT was 11 yards last year. He's stressing a defense beyond its first level.

Renfrow's 2023 ADOT was 5.6 yards. He's settling into a soft spot under a zone and the defense bets that they can rally and tackle before he gets to the marker. That kind of popgun slot receiver play is fine, but we should hope to be able to find that ability in someone who can also bring another skill, whether that's a vertical threat, or some jet sweep/screen game YAC  ability, or even just being very large and blocking well. Every time we trot Renfrow out there, we limit what the defense has to worry about.

it's not the only way to be a threat, it's certainly important for certain roles in an offense and for certain type players and offenses. 

as is the ability to get open quickly and generate easy throws. 

 as far as Renfrow goes, I have consistently said he is sort of his own thing and not really in comp w/ others here.  It's a niche role/job.  Anyone talking about something else from him isn't me.  Just depends if we want to do what he does and if he can still do it. 

as far as AT goes, yeah, he does lower our ceiling given the % of our offense that goes through him and his limitations at this stage in his career.    He should be a roleplayer, much like Renfrow should be if we want to insert what he does into the O....not an O being run through him.  

 Renfrow isn't going to lower the ceiling if used correctly.  Niche assignments to move chains.   It's like a short yardage RB that comes in to pick a random play.  Renfrow is best at that 3rd and 4 type scenario IMO. AT lowers the ceiling because we build the pass game off an old WR that shouldn't be the focal point of a pass attack. 

Not to mention, Bryce Young is practically tailor made to get the ball in the hands of YAC players.   So you need those type on the field. 

[ImfromClayton]

8 hours ago, TD alt said:

 

Ulcerative Colitis is not CTE. 

You are absolutely correct. We were speculating at the time. The UC news dropped yesterday (to my knowledge). That's great news.  That said, he did have a devastating concussion that derailed his 2022 season, which is why we were speculating. 

[PNW_PantherMan]

3 hours ago, TD alt said:

Ulcerative Colitis does not make you feel good. Look it up.

Yea I have it.  When it flares it can be very severe.  I had an extended hospitalization a couple years ago and it took a while to recover.  Can’t imagine trying to deal with that as a pro athlete.  It’s hard enough as a desk jockey.

[CRA]

league ain't ready for this! 

I'm ready for camp to start.  Need someone to get Bryce, Renfrow and Robert Hunt in a photo together so I can upgrade my avatar.