The Evolution of the Panthers WR Room from 2023 to 2025

[Icege]

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.

Edited May 19 by Icege

[Daddy_Uncle]

I think this is the strongest we've been at WR, RB, TE and Oline in a long time. 

[Seltzer]

Very good write up OP. Really enjoyed reading it.

The camp battle for the final WR spot(s) will be fascinating.

I think Renfrow will have the inside track if he is remotely like the guy he once was.

Good route runners are the best friend of a QB throwing with anticipation.

Im intrigued by Jacolby George, but I think there's a good chance the team will release and then sign back to PS unless he really impresses.

I wouldn't be completely surprised if David Moore gets the final WR spot. He can play a lot of different roles and knows Canales system. He really contributed over the last few games, but hes not a long term or even intermediate term solution so hopefully we can upgrade.

Moore fits here, but I dont think we would have a lot of competition if he was cut and then brought back if needed

[Seltzer]

6 minutes ago, Daddy_Uncle said:

I think this is the strongest we've been at WR, RB, TE and Oline in a long time. 

This is the offense we were gaslighted into believing we had in 2023 and so justified trading up for a QB.

Regardless, the past is the past.

On paper, this is definitely the best unit since 2021, maybe 2017.

It's Year 3 for Bryce. Everything is lining up.

I've been a BY9 supporter more than most, but this is his year to show out and he has the supporting cast.

Cam didn't make the playoffs until Year 3. But statistically, the goods ones do by this time.

I'm legit excited for this offense- hope they dont let us down.

[poorboysrev]

17 minutes ago, Daddy_Uncle said:

I think this is the strongest we've been at WR, RB, TE and Oline in a long time. 

Second that. We’ve been through wayyy to many years of one decent wr being considered enough ha

[Beast_3000]

16 minutes ago, Seltzer said:

Very good write up OP. Really enjoyed reading it.

The camp battle for the final WR spot(s) will be fascinating.

I think Renfrow will have the inside track if he is remotely like the guy he once was.

Good route runners are the best friend of a QB throwing with anticipation.

Im intrigued by Jacolby George, but I think there's a good chance the team will release and then sign back to PS unless he really impresses.

I wouldn't be completely surprised if David Moore gets the final WR spot. He can play a lot of different roles and knows Canales system. He really contributed over the last few games, but hes not a long term or even intermediate term solution so hopefully we can upgrade.

Moore fits here, but I dont think we would have a lot of competition if he was cut and then brought back if needed

Yeah you know the Panthers finally have made strides when two vets that have contributed across the league (Hunter Renfrow and David Moore) will probably fight it out for the last spot.  Good problem to have. 

[Icege]

1 hour ago, Seltzer said:

This is the offense we were gaslighted into believing we had in 2023 and so justified trading up for a QB.

Regardless, the past is the past.

On paper, this is definitely the best unit since 2021, maybe 2017.

It's Year 3 for Bryce. Everything is lining up.

I've been a BY9 supporter more than most, but this is his year to show out and he has the supporting cast.

Cam didn't make the playoffs until Year 3. But statistically, the goods ones do by this time.

I'm legit excited for this offense- hope they dont let us down.

Was originally thinking about including TEs in the write up as an overall view at the "weapons" but was too lazy to do RBs as well.

But at a glance...

2023

• RBs: Miles Sanders, Chuba Hubbard, Raheem Blackshear
• TEs: Hayden Hurst, Ian Thomas, Tommy Tremble, Stephen Sullivan, Giovanni Ricci

2024

• RBs: Miles Sanders, Chuba Hubbard, Raheem Blackshear, Jonathon Brooks, Mike Boone
• TEs: Ja'Tavion Sanders, Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas, Feleipe Franks, Jordan Matthews

2025:

• Projected RBs: Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, Trevor Etienne, Raheem Blackshear
• Projected TEs: Ja'Tavion Sanders, Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans

[Captroop]

1 hour ago, Icege said:

2025:

• Projected TEs: Ja'Tavion Sanders, Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans

Seeing a tight end group without Ian Thomas warms my heart.

[frankw]

The best thing going for the receiving group as a whole right now is the amount of promising young and motivated talent. Now the question is can we actually develop them.

[mav1234]

It's weird to think that WR may be a major strength of this team by end of year. Of course, when you use a top 10 draft pick a year after a first rounder, that IS a big deal....

[Aussie Tank]

It might not be this year or even next but I hit a feeling Horn is gonna be a weapon

[CmC2k]

I'm really excited with how the offense has been built and I think we have a real chance to compete at a high level on that side of the ball this year. It's year 3 for Bryce and it's time for him to show out and solidify his place as this teams QB for the future. The supporting cast is there from Oline, WR, RB and HC there's no reason why we shouldn't be at least a top 15 offense this year. The defense will be the achilles heel of this team again but I'd be ok losing some fun shootouts. 

[kungfoodude]

I don't think Mingo didn't fit due to "scheme." He literally just isn't an NFL player.

[Navy_football]

30 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I don't think Mingo didn't fit due to "scheme." He literally just isn't an NFL player.

He was always going to be a project, but he really did look better in college. When he got here he looked like he couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time. Just the most awkward WR I've ever seen. Zero field presence or ball skills.