The Carolina Panthers have a solid wide receiver corps, but adding Penn State wideout KJ Hamler would be a big upgrade, especially as the third guy. DJ Moore is under contract for a few more years, but Curtis Samuel is only under contract for next season, and there is no guarantee the team will sign him to an extension.
Hamler was only a junior this year, but still put up some impressive stats. He finished the season catching 56 passes for 904 yards and eight touchdowns. He really came into his own as a junior, and once he gets into the league he should take some giant steps forward.
Hamler has explosive speed and is a threat to take it the distance from anywhere on the field. He is also really good at getting separation on his routes, which is going to make life tough on defenses. The Panthers could use more of that ability.
Thedraftnetwork.com gave the following report of Hamler's play.
“He has excellent proactive athleticism for the position. He is a dynamic and explosive athlete with the football in his hands. In the running game, he has very good run after the catch ability. He is a threat to score whenever he touches the football. Strong in the passing game due to his dynamic ability with the football. He aligns mostly in the slot and displays sufficient route running ability. He does a good job of creating separation at the top of the route, although he has shown instances of being a hands catcher. He is a savvy route runner who can win against man coverage. He will be a nightmare cover for most defenders in space. This player will also have value as a vice/gunner in the kicking game and will also be a dynamic punt returner. Not an ideal fit on kick off returns.”
The one big knock on Hamler is his size and it's going to limit some of his production in the league. He is going to have to play mostly in the slot and the Panthers might have to use him more as a gadget guy.
The good news for the Panthers is that they are looking for a slot guy, so even though his height could limit him, he will fit in perfectly for the Panthers. The Panthers do have a lot of holes they need to fill on their team, but if they decide to make wide receiver a priority, it makes a lot of sense to draft Hamler.
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