The Carolina Panthers made some positive strides in 2012; strides that would suggest improvement across the board, but there is still work to be done.
Right now, this team is maxed out offensively. They can’t go any higher with the players they have. The good new: the ground game is surprisingly serviceable and Cam Newton is…well, Cam Newton.
The not-so-good news is the receiving department is the team’s weakest link, which consequently, is where the Carolina Panthers’ biggest need is.
This group is obviously led by the great Steve Smith. But Smith is getting older (33) and has begun to decline. On the other side of the field is the rising talent of Brandon LaFell who will be playing in his contract year in 2013.
That’s it!
This combination of receivers hauled in just 19 receiving TDs last season (24th) and really gave defenses nothing to worry about.
The Carolina Panthers need a young sizable receiver to take over and inject some life into this team if they are to rise to the next level, but waiting to find this talent in the second or even third round may prove to be a futile act of hope.
I believe this team can really help themselves by selecting Keenan Allen out of Cal.
Allen is such a huge target at 6’ 3”, 210 yards—just imagine Carolina’s offense with him in the mix.
Allen is exceptional in his route running, and is extremely difficult to press at the line making him a prime deep-ball target.
The Panthers need a receiver like this. They cannot continue to run Cam Newton all over the place to make up the difference—history shows us this doesn't bode well for QBs.
Allen is being compared to Chicago’s Brandon Marshall, and if that’s the case, this team would be crazy to pass on him if he’s available.
A solid target addition for Cam Newton; a quality upgrade for the Panthers.
Have your own idea regarding Carolina? Let me know below and be sure to follow my continued NFC coverage. This concludes the NFC South. Next up, the NFC West.
NFC North 2013 Team Needs:
GREEN BAY PACKERS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
CHICAGO BEARS
DETROIT LIONS
NFC East 2013 Team Needs:
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
DALLAS COWBOYS
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
NEW YORK GIANTS
NFC South 2013 Team Needs:
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
ATLANTA FALCONS
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
