Memo to Panthers: Get Carter

By Adam Best  |   Monday, April 09, 2007  |  Comments( 5 )

Carolina Panthers
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After the recent addition of quarterback David Carr, the Carolina Panthers' offensive attack seems set. Now the team has two capable QBs in incumbent starter Jake Delhomme and Carr, a duo of star wide receivers in Keyshawn Johnson and Steve Smith, and a pair of talented young running backs in DeAngelo Williams and Deshaun Foster. The Panthers still have WR Keary Colbert on the roster, who has played well in spurts over the past few years. The offensive line is also pretty solid. At first glance, the offense indeed looks ready to wreak havoc.

Appearances can be deceiving -- the Panthers' offense needs a few more things.

The most glaring needs are at tight end and offensive tackle, but the WR position also needs to be addressed. Yes, on paper receiver looks like the strength of Carolina's offense. However, games aren't played on paper. Smith is injury prone, Johnson is aging and Colbert is wildly inconsistent. Considering these issues, the Panthers definitely need to add another reliable receiver, especially considering how erratic both Delhomme and Carr have been the last couple of seasons.

To find that reliable receiver, the Panthers need only to look at last year's roster. Retaining restricted free agent Drew Carter would be a huge shot in the arm for the entire offense. Even though he hasn't had a ton of success, Carter made some big plays last year despite being stuck behind two of the NFL's best wideouts. Furthermore, he's young (25), fast and big -- 6-foot-4, 200 pounds.

Despite gobs of potential, Carter remains an unknown commodity. He was injured off and on throughout his entire collegiate career at Ohio State, where he also was stuck behind stars like Michael Jenkins, Chris Gamble and Santonio Holmes on the depth chart. His pro career hasn't been much different, as he has totaled 33 receptions, 460 yards and four touchdowns in two seasons. The numbers don't tell the whole story, though, as Carter has played exceptionally well when he receives snaps.

Still, Carter isn't getting a whole lot of attention. Perhaps it's the second-round tender the Panthers placed on him, which means any team that matched the Panthers' offer and signed Carter would have to send back a second-round pick. Still, there are plenty of teams that are in desperate need of a receiver, like Kansas City and Minnesota, that might consider trading a middle- or late-round pick for Carter. Maybe the only reason a Carter trade hasn't been discussed is because of the strong class of receivers in the upcoming NFL draft.

Speaking of the which, the Panthers would be wise to not select a WR, instead signing Carter to a longer deal. This move would be partially to prevent the unlikely event of another team signing him and paying the required tender, but the real intent would be to keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2008. If that happens he will almost certainly sign elsewhere, somewhere where he would be all but promised a starting job.

By locking Carter up the Panthers will get back the equivalent of a first- or second-round receiver in the upcoming draft and still have the picks to fill holes at tight end, offensive tackle, linebacker and safety. The option of trading Carter for a fourth- or fifth-round pick just isn't worth it.

If the Panthers go out and make sure they keep Carter for more than one year, the offense will be in much better shape and there will be one fewer position of need to focus on during the draft. Those are positive steps for a team fresh off an 8-8 season with lots of holes to fill.
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CommentsComments: 5  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
petey		06:58 PM
04/09/2007
Memo to Panthers: Your the overall most underachieving team in football and you make me sick how you waste talent. Fire Fox,...
No.2
VJD55		11:36 PM
04/09/2007
This guy is reeeeeally overrating Carter. The Panthers have been trying to establish a complement to Steve Smith ever since they...
No.3
jase		04:37 PM
04/13/2007
I agree with VJD55. Drew Carter runs bad routes and drops passes. Being fast and being good aren't the same. The Panthers need a...
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