Carolina Panthers 2010s all-decade offense
By Luke Tucker
Wide Receivers
Steve Smith
If Cam Newton isn’t the best Panther of all-time, then Steve Smith is. Most of his damage with Carolina came in the previous decade, but in the four seasons he played with the Panthers in the 2010s, he was undoubtedly the best receiver on the team. In the decade, Smith put together two 1,000-yard receiving seasons, while racking up almost 4,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. In his Panthers career, Smith caught for over 12,000 yards and 67 scores–both of which remain franchise-highs. Earlier this season Smitty was inducted into the Panthers’ Hall of Honor. Oh yeah, and don’t ever forget to “ICE UP, SON.”
Ted Ginn Jr.
First joining the Panthers in 2013, Ted Ginn gave Newton his first true deep-threat since entering the league. It was perhaps Ginn that had the most thrilling moment of that 2013 season, as he scored the game-winning touchdown with just over a minute remaining to defeat the Patriots on Monday Night Football. Ginn would leave Carolina for the 2014 season, but returned for the 2015-2016 seasons. In three years with the Panthers, he amassed 2,234 yards from scrimmage and scored 19 touchdowns–the second-most of any Carolina receiver in the decade.
DJ Moore
The final wide-receiver spot on the all-decade team could’ve gone to a number of guys, among them are Devin Funchess, Kelvin Benjamin, or even Brandon LaFell. However, the last spot goes to Steve Smith’s self-proclaimed replacement, DJ Moore. In just his second season, Moore has blossomed in 2019. The 22-year-old has already reached 1,000 receiving yards this season, becoming the first Panthers receiver to do so since Benjamin did it in 2014. Perhaps the one thing Moore needs to improve upon is scoring touchdowns. In 29 career games, he has scored just six times.