Despite clinching their first playoff berth in eight years and capturing their first division title in a decade, the Carolina Panthers didn't experience much growth on offense in 2025—at least on paper.
The unit went from averaging the fourth-fewest yards (298.0) and 10th-fewest points per game (20.1) in 2024 to averaging the sixth-fewest yards (295.6) and sixth-fewest points (18.3) this past season.
Part of their struggles can be attributed to a lack of a true "home-run hitter" in the receiving room, something president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan alluded to back in January.
“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," Morgan stated in an interview on The Drive with Tim Donnelly.
"That’s another spot that I think that we’ve identified and we’ll be looking for in the future.”
So, who would they look for to fill that need?
Here are four free-agent pass catchers who the Panthers could be interested in this offseason . . .
Alec Pierce
Pierce is one of the very best deep-ball threats in the entire league, let alone in the open market.
The 2022 second-round pick recorded a first down on 87.2 percent of his receptions in 2025—the highest mark amongst players with at least 20 catches. He also averaged the most yards per reception (21.3) and was tied for second in receptions of at least 40 yards.
Rashid Shaheed
Seattle added a jolt to their offense and their special teams when they acquired Shaheed from New Orleans—and it obviously paid off. The shifty speedster struck twice in the playoffs for the eventual Super Bowl champs, once on a 95-yard kick return for a touchdown to open up the divisional round and then on a 51-yard catch in the NFC championship game.
Shaheed, who has averaged 14.7 yards per reception over his four-year NFL career, can provide some firepower as both a receiver and a returner—another spot Carolina has yet to really solidify.
Tutu Atwell
While he didn't play much this past season, Atwell still flashed his big-play ability—on an 88-yard touchdown in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Atwell's lack of usage by Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay in 2025 might've spelled the end of his time in Hollywood. Carolina could be a sensible landing spot if he moves on.
Tyreek Hill
Yeah, we'd really have to stretch for this one—especially with a soon-to-be 32-year-old coming off a serious knee injury. But we'd be remiss if we didn't include one of the greatest home-run hitters in recent memory.
Hill was released by the Miami Dolphins last week, and is now free to sign anywhere—even before the start of the new league year. If he can shake off his setback from 2025, perhaps the Panthers would be interested in taking a bit of a gamble to elevate their offense.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 4 'home-run hitters' the Panthers could look to acquire this offseason