Image Source: Anthony Rizzuti, Panthers Wire
Key Takeaways:
- The Carolina Panthers are looking to add a "home-run" threat to their offense, particularly at the receiver position.
- The team’s president of football operations and general manager, Dan Morgan, believes that the offense is missing a player who can take a short catch and turn it into a big play.
- The Panthers’ offense ranked 26th in passing yards per game and tied for the third-lowest passing yards per attempt in the 2025 season.
- The team lacks a true speed threat at the wideout position, with Jimmy Horn being the only player to show some promise in this area.
Introduction to the Panthers’ Offseason Plans
The Carolina Panthers are gearing up for the upcoming offseason, and it seems that they are looking to make some significant changes to their offense. In a recent episode of The Drive with Tim Donnelly, President of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan discussed the team’s plans for the offseason. When asked about the possibility of adding a "home-run" threat to the receiver position, Morgan replied, "I think Jimmy Horn gave us a little bit of that element towards the end of the season." However, he also acknowledged that the team is missing a player who can consistently make big plays, saying, "I do think that’s something that we are missing on our offense a little bit—is where we can just get the ball out to a guy and he can take a 5-yard catch and take it the distance, or make a few guys miss and come up with a big play."
The Panthers’ Offense: A Review of the 2025 Season
The Panthers’ offense took a step back in the 2025 season, ranking 26th in passing yards per game with an average of 179.3 yards. The team also struggled with big plays, finishing tied for the 10th-fewest completions of at least 20 yards with 43, and the fourth-fewest completions of at least 40 yards with just four. As Morgan noted, the team is looking to add a player who can make a significant impact in this area, saying, "That’s another spot that I think that we’ve identified and we’ll be looking for in the future." The team’s quarterback, Bryce Young, could certainly benefit from having a speedy receiver to throw to, and the addition of such a player could help to take the offense to the next level.
The Current State of the Panthers’ Receiving Corps
The Panthers currently do not have a true speed threat at the wideout position, with Jimmy Horn being the only player to show some promise in this area. Horn recorded 11 catches for 108 yards, but the team lacks a player who can consistently make big plays. The team does have some promising young talents, such as Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, but they could still benefit from the addition of a veteran receiver who can stretch the field. As Morgan noted, the team is looking to add a player who can make a significant impact, and it will be interesting to see how they approach the offseason in terms of addressing this need.
The Importance of Adding a "Home-Run" Threat
The addition of a "home-run" threat to the Panthers’ offense could be a game-changer for the team. As Morgan noted, the team is looking for a player who can take a short catch and turn it into a big play, saying, "I do think that’s something that we are missing on our offense a little bit—is where we can just get the ball out to a guy and he can take a 5-yard catch and take it the distance, or make a few guys miss and come up with a big play." The team’s offense has been lacking in this area, and the addition of such a player could help to take the pressure off of the team’s other receivers and create more opportunities for big plays. As the team heads into the offseason, it will be interesting to see how they approach this need and what moves they make to address it.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
In conclusion, the Carolina Panthers are looking to add a "home-run" threat to their offense, particularly at the receiver position. The team’s president of football operations and general manager, Dan Morgan, believes that the offense is missing a player who can take a short catch and turn it into a big play. The team’s offense ranked 26th in passing yards per game and tied for the third-lowest passing yards per attempt in the 2025 season, and they lack a true speed threat at the wideout position. As the team heads into the offseason, it will be interesting to see how they approach this need and what moves they make to address it. With the right addition, the Panthers’ offense could be poised for a breakout season in 2026.
https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2026/01/16/panthers-nfl-offseason-dan-morgan-wide-receiver/88223026007/
