By any metric, the Carolina Panthers were a disaster in 2023. They traded up to select quarterback Bryce Young with the first overall pick, and then watched as No. 2 selection C.J. Stroud lit up the NFL with the Houston Texans. They hired Frank Reich as head coach with the idea that he’d help mentor their would-be franchise quarterback … and fired him after 11 games.
They hit the reset button once again during the offseason. The highlights: hiring Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales as head coach, committing north of $150 million in free agency to overhaul the interior of the offensive line, and adding talent on the outside by drafting wide receiver Xavier Legette, and trading for Diontae Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Those new wideouts will team with top returning receiver Adam Thielen to give Young a much more talented group than what he dealt with as a rookie. While these moves portend marked improvement, nothing is certain, so let’s look at what we can expect from Carolina’s receivers in 2024.
Diontae Johnson
As recently as 2021, it looked like Johnson might be the next in a long line of frontline receivers to wear the black and gold. Then, he put together a historical touchdown drought (86 receptions without a score in 2022) and put together a 51-717-5 line last year that almost mirrored his debut campaign. As his numbers slipped, questions arose surrounding his maturity level and behavior in the locker room, and the Steelers decided it was time to move on.
When he’s right, Johnson is a volume target capable of moving the chains. In many ways, he’s akin to a younger version of Thielen in that he’s better when paired with someone who can stretch the field. Johnson is ticketed for free agency after the season, so he should be motivated to give maximum effort to put concerns about his attitude and production to rest.
Adam Thielen
Easily the most accomplished receiver on last year’s squad, Thielen was Young’s safety blanket in the early going, posting three games with 10-plus receptions and over 100 yards in the first six. Teams became wise to that connection, however, and the veteran saw his production slip dramatically after that hot start. Over the final 11 games, Thielen topped 75 yards in a game just once, and his final touchdown of 2023 came in Week 6.
As such, it’d be smart not to read too much into his final line of 103 receptions, 1,014 yards, and four TDs. Entering his age-34 season, Thielen is still a savvy route runner and possession receiver who can make the tough catches. Expecting another 1,000-yard campaign, though, would be unwise.
Xavier Legette
Coming into the draft, Legette seemed to be something of a Rorschach test with some likening him to receiver Chris Godwin, while others drew comps to WRs Mike Evans and DK Metcalf (Seattle Seahawks), all of whom played under Canales.
In terms of size, hthe rookie’s 221-pound frame compares more to the latter pair, and his ability to function as a legitimate deep threat again hearkens to Evans. While Legette looks like an unrefined product, his size/speed combination makes him a downfield threat, which is important since neither Johnson nor Thielen are suited to that role.
Jonathan Mingo
Mingo, a second-round pick last year, struggled through an inconsistent and largely forgettable rookie season. He appeared in 15 games and caught 43 balls, but there was no explosiveness as he averaged 9.7 yards per catch and failed to reach the end zone. While it’s too early to give up on Mingo, bear in mind he was selected by former general manager Scott Fitterer, so he might be facing an uphill climb for snaps this season.
Another former second-rounder, WR Terrace Marshall Jr, is still around but has done little in three seasons and looks like he’s on his way out.
Fantasy football outlook
Johnson has more physical talent than Thielen and more experience than Legette, making the former Steeler the most likely No. 1 receiver for Carolina. While it’s reasonable to expect growth from Young, you can’t dismiss last year’s struggles. Between that and Johnson’s own middling production in recent seasons, he’s a low-end WR3 or strong No. 4.
Despite solid numbers, Thielen’s late-season woes make him no better than late-round depth as a fifth fantasy wideout. Legette has potential, but he’s a bit raw and is stepping into a situation with some real question marks. He’s a watch-list candidate in standard leagues but a viable flier in deeper or more competitive formats.
