The second month of the NFL offseason is underway, leaving time to tell how the Carolina Panthers will handle the lead-up to the 2025 draft. The first month of the action was a busy one as the Panthers signed various free agents, hoping that their efforts would be good enough to lead to a postseason return next season.
Even though the NFL draft is right around the corner, there's still enough time for the Panthers to sign another veteran free agent or two. That includes one former second-round playmaker, whose addition would help make quarterback Bryce Young's life much easier.
Panthers Must Sign Free Agent WR Elijah Moore to Begin April
The wide receiver room is an area that the Panthers haven't paid much attention to this offseason. As solid as the likes of Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, and Jalen Coker are, though, more help is needed for Young to take his performance to the next level.
That's why the Panthers would be wise to try signing free-agent WR Elijah Moore for the 2025 NFL season.
Moore is a former Day 2 prospect who was drafted 34th overall by the New York Jets in 2021. The ex-Ole Miss playmaker displayed plenty of potential as a rookie, converting 43 receptions into 538 receiving yards and five touchdowns in only 11 games. Unfortunately, a disappointing 37-446-1 stat line in Year 2 saw the Jets trade the Fort Lauderdale, FL native to the Cleveland Browns ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Moore's run with the Browns wasn't anything to write home about, though. He only caught 120 balls for 1,178 yards and three TDs without missing a game throughout the last two seasons. Having said that, a big part of the lackluster production stems from the 25-year-old wideout being forced to play with seven different QBs during his two-year stay in Cleveland.
It's also worth noting that Moore's 538 receiving yards in 2024 would've only trailed Thielen (615) as far as Panthers pass-catchers are concerned.
Should he join the Panthers, Moore would be united with a consistent option under center in Young. The potential QB-WR duo also only has a 16-month age difference between them, meaning there's still plenty of time for them to grow and create chemistry alongside each other.
Besides, unlike other available WRs, signing Moore wouldn't break the bank. Spotrac is currently listing his projected market value at $4.5 million annually, which is a fair price if can put up another 60-plus catches/500-plus yards.
Unless they're completely confident in their current situation, the Panthers have nothing to lose and a lot to potentially gain by adding Moore. A signing would also start the month by letting Carolina fans know that management is serious about competing going forward.