The Carolina Panthers ' back-to-back losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have revealed even more about the exciting progress of quarterback Bryce Young. But those defeats may have also revealed a harder truth—that there are some issues around him.
While Young's recent performances have been considerably impressive, the limitations of his current group of pass catchers have prevented those offerings from being even more eye-opening. From the lack of playmaking ability to very untimely drops , Carolina's receivers aren't exactly helping to elevate Young consistently enough.
Despite selecting Xavier Legette in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft and getting production out of undrafted free agent Jalen Coker, the Panthers still need quality talent at wideout—especially ones who can threaten defenses on all three levels with speed, explosiveness or pure talent alone.
So, let's take an early look ahead at four potential targets—either through the draft or free agency—for Young and the Panthers in 2025 . . .
If the Panthers want to be aggressive and pursue a big-ticket name to add to their roster, Higgins is the one. He would be an X-receiver for many teams across the league, as he provides the skill set to threaten defenses on all three levels of the field.
Higgins will be asking for a hefty contract, something the Cincinnati Bengals have yet to give him. But a deal could be worth it for Carolina in the long run.
Carolina's offense is missing a very key element—a playmaker who can stretch defenses vertically and gain quality separation as a route runner. Moore, who has seemingly been underutilized for most of his career, could thrive in an offense that finally allows him to unleash those skills.
Plus, he'll come much cheaper than Higgins would.
The current Cleveland Brown is currently sitting on 50 receptions for 447 yards and a touchdown in 2024.
Should the Panthers draft an offensive player early, Burden would make the most sense.
While he is not someone who would win on the perimeter early in his career, the University of Missouri standout would be very effective as a vertical playmaker and run-after-catch threat. The Panthers need to get younger across the board, and Young having top-tier first and second-year playmakers around him would give the offense a great ceiling for success.
With Adam Thielen's contract dwindling down to its final year in 2025, the Panthers might have to seek out a younger receiver who excels with short-area quickness. Johnson could be an option in the middle rounds of the draft.
There is a lot to like about the Oregon Duck, even despite his smaller frame. He displays solid separation skills as well as run-after-catch and vertical ability—especially on crossers and fade routes.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 4 wide receivers the Panthers should pursue in 2025
