Panthers Among Favorites to Land Texas Speedster in NFL Draft
Sportsbooks give the Carolina Panthers an excellent chance to land one of the best wide receivers in the draft.
By Cem Yolbulan
The Carolina Panthers don't have a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. But, they have the best pick available in the second round and they need to nail that selection to give fans something to cheer for and get their hopes up ahead of next season.
After the miserable 2-15 season in 2023, the Panthers need to take a significant step forward under Dave Canales next season. They already reshaped the roster for this objective but they still have ways to go.
One of the primary needs for the team is adding another wide receiver for Bryce Young. Carolina already added Diontae Johnson, who should be a big upgrade over their receiver corps from last season. But adding another elite pass-catcher is a must if the Panthers want to make sure they are not the worst offense in the NFL again.
Therefore, it makes plenty of sense for the Panthers to target a receiver with their 33rd overall pick. Oddsmakers also think this is likely as they give Carolina the second-best odds (+650) to land the Texas star Xavier Worthy.
NFL Draft Odds: Panthers Among Favorites to Land WR Xavier Worthy
Xavier Worthy has one of the highest upsides of any offensive player in the draft. He raised plenty of eyebrows when he broke the 40-yard dash record at the NFL Combine. His speed and athleticism make him one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. Add the fact that he doesn't turn 21 until the draft, and Panthers fans would be thrilled to land him.
One issue is that a few teams are selecting right before the Panthers are in need of a wide receiver. The Bills (no. 28) and the Chiefs (no. 32) might target a pass-catcher with their first-round selections, possibly taking Worthy off the board by the time it's the Panthers' turn. Carolina also has the 39th-overall pick and a third-round selection that they could use to move up a few spots to guarantee that they land Worthy but that is certainly a risky proposition for a team already low on assets.
With less than two weeks left to the draft, it's the perfect time to sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and claim your sign-up offer of $200 in bonus bets.
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Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.