There are always a few rookie wide receivers making the transition into the NFL that ride the wave of potential, and not all of them are first-round picks. For Terrace Marshall Jr. and the Carolina Panthers, while he may be looked at as the fourth option in the passing game, he has the traits to become even bigger than that, especially alongside Christian McCaffrey and Sam Darnold.
While the Panthers have the incredible McCaffrey filling the role of the best player on their offense, new quarterback Sam Darnold also has the likes of DJ Moore and Robby Anderson to target. As head coach Matt Rhule heads into his second season leading this team, Marshall will be able to link up with his former offensive coordinator at LSU, Joe Brady, and together these three will hopefully be able to help Marshall translate his collegiate success to the pros.
This will be a prove-it season on multiple levels for Carolina, as McCaffrey will be returning from a nagging injury that saw him miss multiple games, Darnold will be playing out his rookie contract’s fifth-year option, and Rhule will be needing to prove he has what it takes to play with the big dogs in the NFC South, the division that just so happens to include the most recent Super Bowl champions.
It has seemed like an obvious role for Marshall to enter the fold and hold down the slot / third WR role in his first season, especially with the rapport that Anderson and Darnold have dating back to their days with the New York Jets. With both he and Moore holding down the fort in the two starting wideout slots, Marshall has to fight for any playing time he can get through other ways.
The intriguing part of the start of Marshall’s career is that he has earned quite a few fans for a late-second round selection, which also happens to be the first offensive player drafted by the Panthers in the two drafts Rhule has been the HC for. The relationship that Brady and Marshall enjoyed in college likely played a part in this selection, which can only mean good things for the rookie wideout.
2021 Projections
52 receptions / 641 yards / 5 TDs / 27 rushing yards / 0 rushing TDs / 2 fumbles
While sounding like a broken record, it is very obvious that teams do not use first or second-day selections on players, just to not use them right out of the gate, especially offensive skill players. Marshall made such an impression this offseason and preseason that the Panthers released veteran WR David Moore, who was just signed this offseason to help fight for that WR3 role.
Expecting Justin Jefferson-like numbers from Marshall is not a good way to approach Marshall’s situation, especially with the two bonafide options in front of him. Jefferson was able to break out due to there being a lack of established players in front of him on the depth chart – while Marshall has to work up that ladder to earn that.
But this offense is going to be a strong one, especially once Darnold gets his feet under him in the new scheme and McCaffrey is able to return to his RB1 days – and once that happens, Marshall’s role will become more and more cut and dry, producing a solid look into what can be expected from him this year and in the future.
A slow start to his professional career is likely in the cards for Marshall – but that should not discourage you from sticking to your guns for his potentia impact this year. Rookie wideouts acclimate to the league on different timelines (no two are the same), so working Marshall into the game plan more and more every week can help build up his confidence while providing him with hands-on experience for improvements.
If he is able to reach – or surpass – the 50-reception mark, then the sky is the limit for Marshall. That kind of exposure and that piece of the target pie already in his first season means big things are in store for the former LSU Tiger, which means you must ride the wave now and pick him up for your fantasy team(s) before everyone else catches on.
The Panthers go as McCaffrey goes, yet the 2021 season will show just how multi-dimensional they can be as a unit under Rhule. With Marshall now in the fold, the number of options this team has to utilize in the passing game only makes things harder for opposing defenses, and with the Panthers likely fielding a competitive squad throughout the entire season, the opportunities for Marshall will only continue to increase.
Good things are ahead for Marshall – just don’t miss out before the hype train goes off the rails.
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