2020 Panthers Roster First Look: Wide Receivers

75756A5E-120A-4932-810C-2FD980DB785E

The Carolina Panthers should be holding rookie minicamps and OTAs right now, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting the sports world down, fans are left speculating on how the Panthers roster will look. 

Even with last month’s draft completed, there’s still the possibility of some late moves before training camp is tentatively scheduled to start. 

WFNZ will take a look at each Carolina position over the next few weeks to see where each group stands. 

WIDE RECEIVERS
Roster: DJ Moore; Robby Anderson; Curtis Samuel; Keith Kirkwood; Seth Roberts; Pharoh Cooper; DeAndrew White; Brandon Zylstra; Ishmael Hyman; Damion Jeanpiere; Omar Bayless (Rookie); TreVontae Hights (Rookie)
Key losses: Jarius Wright; Chris Hogan 
Notable moves: Carolina signed former Jets receiver Anderson to a two-year, $20 million deal. 

The Panthers also signed Kirkwood, Roberts, Cooper and White to one-year deals. 

Outlook: The receiving group will depend a lot on how the Panthers quarterback situation plays out but Moore is coming off a 1,000-yard season as a sophomore and will look to solidify his role as a true No. 1 receiver.

Samuel remains as a breakout candidate after not living up to the preseason hype last year but with Anderson now on the roster, Samuel could fall third on the depth chart in a contract year. 

Anderson will bring the Panthers more of a deep threat alongside Samuel with Moore being more of an all-around receiver. 

Running back Christian McCaffrey will also be expected to be used as one of the team’s top receiving threats.

Kirkwood, Roberts and White will come in as backups and could also be used on special teams.

Cooper has a solid resume as a kick returner and will look to fill that position which the Panthers never fully solidified last season. 

Overall expectations: If quarterback Teddy Bridgewater plays decent enough, he has a pretty solid receivers group to work with. Moore is expected to be at the top of the depth chart but Anderson brings experience as a No. 1 threat to create a more solid 1-2 punch that the Panthers didn’t have last year.

Samuel fits in more as a third receiver and Carolina brought in a lot more depth at the position compared to last season.