The Carolina Panthers are heading into the offseason with one thing clear: Bryce Young needs more help. The second-year quarterback showed flashes of promise, but the supporting cast around him-particularly at wide receiver-left a lot to be desired.
While Tetairoa McMillan looks like a legitimate rising star and Jalen Coker turned heads as an unexpected breakout, the Panthers’ receiver room still lacks depth and consistency. Xavier Legette, once viewed as a potential long-term solution, hasn’t developed as hoped, and it’s becoming harder to ignore the growing concerns about his trajectory.
That’s why the Panthers are being linked to one of college football’s most electric playmakers: Georgia’s Zachariah Branch.
In a recent seven-round mock draft, Branch is projected to land in Carolina with the 51st overall pick. And if that happens, it could be a game-changer for this offense.
Branch isn’t your prototypical outside receiver-he’s listed at just 5-foot-10, 180 pounds-but what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in explosiveness. After transferring from USC to Georgia, Branch led the SEC in receptions this past season with 81, piling up 811 yards and six touchdowns along the way. That kind of production in the SEC isn’t just impressive-it’s elite.
What makes Branch stand out is his ability to create separation and make defenders miss in space. He’s got rare burst and vision, traits that made him a dangerous return man as well as a reliable option in the passing game. He’s not just a slot receiver-he’s a weapon.
Looking back at his college career, Branch showed steady growth. As a true freshman at USC in 2023, he caught 31 passes for 320 yards and two scores. He followed that up with a 47-catch, 503-yard campaign the next year before transferring to Georgia, where he truly broke out.
If the Panthers were to add Branch, it would give them the flexibility to keep Coker on the outside-where his 6-foot-3 frame and vertical ability are best utilized-while inserting a dynamic playmaker into the slot. That kind of balance could open up the offense in ways we haven’t seen yet with Young under center.
Of course, Carolina has other needs to address, and it’s unlikely they’ll go wide receiver in the first round of the draft. But Day 2? That’s where the value lies, and Branch could be sitting right there as an ideal fit.
It’s also worth noting that the Panthers have some cap space to play with in free agency. They could opt to pursue a veteran pass-catcher, but depending on how they prioritize their spending, the draft might be the more appealing route to add a cost-controlled, high-upside talent.
Either way, it’s hard to imagine Carolina standing pat at wide receiver. Unless they’re still holding out hope for Legette to turn things around, adding another weapon feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity.
For a young quarterback like Bryce Young, having reliable options is everything. And if the Panthers can land a player like Zachariah Branch-someone who can take a five-yard pass and turn it into 50-they might finally start unlocking the full potential of their offense.