Panthers-Ravens Blockbuster Trade Could Bring First-Round WR to Carolina’s Offense
The Carolina Panthers may have a full wide receiver room, but it lacks star power.
While the Panthers have depth at the position, they don’t exactly have many proven playmakers. Xavier Legette had a lackluster rookie season, Jalen Coker was an undrafted free agent, Tetairoa McMillan is still untested, David Moore is a journeyman, Hunter Renfrow spent last year out of the league, and Adam Thielen is nearing the end of his career. The group is deep, but not necessarily talented.
This is where NFL analyst Anthony Palacios from Last Word on Sports suggests a trade could help. With rumors swirling that the Baltimore Ravens are considering moving former first-round pick Rashod Bateman, Palacios believes the Panthers could be a good fit for the receiver.
He argues that now is the time for Carolina to be proactive in giving Bryce Young more weapons. Since McMillan is a rookie and, according to Palacios, isn’t ready for full-time duties yet, adding Bateman would bolster the receiver depth chart. He envisions Bateman thriving behind Legette and Coker.
Although Bateman has yet to fully meet the expectations set by his first-round draft status, he remains a solid NFL receiver and would be a valuable addition to the Panthers’ roster. However, Palacios cautions that Bateman would come at a cost, requiring draft capital the Panthers may not be willing to part with.
Additionally, the Panthers already have a crowded receiver room, including a mix of UDFAs, McMillan, Thielen, Legette, Coker, Jimmy Horn Jr., Renfrow, and Moore. Unless they included a couple of these players in the trade to make room, acquiring Bateman might be excessive. While you can never have too many weapons, the situation doesn’t necessarily make sense from a practical standpoint.
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