There were plenty of questions about the Carolina Panthers receiving core heading into the 2024 season, and while moves were made both in the trade market and the first round of the draft, there were still plenty of questions remaining. After injuries to both Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson, undrafted free agent receiver Jalen Coker saw his first action as a starter last weekend against the Denver Broncos, and he made the most of it.
On Sunday Coker went up against a tough Denver Broncos defense. Despite having one of the better secondaries in the league, Coker found some big-time success with Bryce Young. On the afternoon, Coker hauled in 4 catches for 78 yards and a touchdown late into the fourth quarter. Coker looked as though he had a legitimate connection with Young and was consistently making big-time plays in crucial moments despite the blowout loss.
Tried to tell people in prospect szn
Jalen Coker is GOOD at football. Dude continues to flash with opps. pic.twitter.com/gCUqQ21AkG
— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) October 28, 2024
Now, with the trade of Diontae Johnson, it looks like Coker has a chance to be a full-time starter for the Panthers. If Carolina can get this offense moving with a quarterback change, Coker could be one of the biggest surprises to come out of the 2024 NFL Draft. How Coker went undrafted given his college tape and his clear pro skillset is a mystery that will likely never be solved.
