Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker is starting to get the kind of attention that usually comes only after a player has already forced the league to notice.
An undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross, Coker has flashed in big stretches over his first two NFL seasons. Even with quad injuries costing him five games in each year, he still did enough to land a new three-year, $34 million contract from Carolina. That kind of commitment says plenty about where the Panthers expect him to fit moving forward.
Now, heading into his third season, Coker has been listed by Alex Kay of Bleacher Report as one of the NFL’s five most underrated players. Kay pointed to the way Coker climbed the Panthers’ target hierarchy even while competing with Offensive Rookie of the Year winner Tetairoa McMillan.
“Despite having to contend with Offensive Rookie of the Year winner Tetairoa McMillan for targets, Coker still jumped up in Carolina's pecking order-finishing second on the team in both receiving yardage and receiving touchdowns-while contributing a slew of key blocks for his teammates. Coker may not be the fastest, strongest, tallest or most athletic receiver out there, but he's honed his craft to the point he can be a dependable weapon for a playoff contender.”
There’s also a clear path for more volume if he can finally get a full season under him. Last year, Coker finished fourth on the team with 43 targets, trailing Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette and running back Rico Dowdle.
The extension also comes with opportunity. Coker should have a real shot at the No. 2 role, and the Panthers don’t appear to have any pass-catching running backs or tight ends on the roster who belong ahead of him behind McMillan in the passing game.
He already showed what he can do when the lights are brightest. In January’s wild-card round against the Los Angeles Rams, Coker caught nine passes on 12 targets for a game-high 134 receiving yards and a touchdown in the near-upset.
The one lingering concern is health. Two soft-tissue injuries in two years is not nothing, and Carolina will need Coker on the field if it wants to repeat as NFC South champions while navigating a tougher schedule than the one it faced in 2025.
In Other News...
Panthers May Finally Have A Real Tight End Answer For Bryce Young
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A few names already sit in the mix as Carolina weighs whether to trade, shop in free agency or simply keep looking for the right fit. Michael Mayer has been floated as a more sensible trade avenue than some other options, while Darren Waller still has enough juice to make the idea interesting after flashing in Miami, including a strong showing against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium last season. Jonnu Smith, though, has emerged as the most practical target of the group, and if Carolina is serious about stabilizing this part of the offense, the choice may come down to whether it wants upside, familiarity or the cleanest path to making the position matter again. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Suddenly Linked To A Tight End Upgrade Bryce Young Needs
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That is why the idea floating around ESPN caught some attention, even if it is still just that, an idea. Carolina has been linked to a potential move for a high-end tight end who has the kind of track record that would fit what the Panthers need, and Detroit's financial picture only adds to the speculation. Any deal would not be simple, though, because a trade would almost certainly have to come with real draft value and the kind of long-term commitment that turns a rumor into a major roster decision. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Newton Sounds Off After Troubling News About Former NFL Star
Chris Johnsons health news has landed with a jolt across the football world, and it has a lot of former players thinking beyond the diagnosis itself. The former running back carved out a remarkable NFL career from 2008 to 2017, highlighted by six straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons and a reputation as one of the fastest backs of his era, so hearing his name attached to a serious long-term illness naturally carries extra weight in league circles.
On his podcast, Cam Newton focused less on nostalgia and more on what comes next for the NFL and the people who played in it. Newton said he is very intrigued to see how the league responds and what its plan is to make the game safer while better protecting former players, a question that has only grown louder as more ex-NFL players have dealt with ALS. For Carolina fans, it was a reminder that the conversation around footballs toll does not end when a players career does. [Read more 🡒]