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          NFL Nation

          Panthers mailbag: What about the wide receiver position?

          Mar 21, 2015
          • David NewtonESPN Staff Writer
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            • Covered Panthers, NFL for 11 years
            • More than 25 years experience covering NFL, college football and NASCAR
            • Joined ESPN in 2006
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          CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Based on all of your questions for today’s mailbag, you don’t believe the Carolina Panthers are ready to hit the field with the current group of wide receivers.

          You’re probably right.

          Aside from the signing of unrestricted free agent Ted Ginn, the Panthers still haven’t addressed the need of an elite No. 2 receiver with speed to play opposite Kelvin Benjamin. Ginn was signed as much or more for his kick return skills as his receiving ability.

          Fortunately for Carolina, the draft is as loaded at wide receiver as it was a year ago when the Panthers selected Benjamin with the 28th pick.

          Let’s get to the questions:

          @DNewtonESPN: You won't see Stephen Hill remaining on the practice squad for another year. If he's not ready to contribute, he will be cut. The Panthers obviously saw something in the former second-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech to leave him on the practice squad all of last season after the Jets released him. If receivers coach Ricky Proehl can't develop him into a valuable commodity, I'm not sure anybody can.

          @DNewtonESPN: First, I agree with you. Spending a lot of money on free agents, in my opinion, is overrated. As for wide receivers, they are looking at speed receivers who might be available in the first three or four rounds. Proehl has been all over the country as he was last year working out players, from Louisville's DeVante Parker to Central Arkansas' Dez Lewis. The team worked out Georgia's Chris Conley in Athens this week. Stanford's Ty Montgomery is among those that have come to Charlotte for a visit. I get the feeling the Panthers are looking to fill that need in the second or third round, but if one of the top four or possibly five falls to them at No. 25, you never know. Before selecting Benjamin last season, the Panthers hadn't taken a receiver in the first round since 1997. That was Rae Carruth.

          @DNewtonESPN: Because of moves in free agency it appears Carolina's first-round pick will come down to four positions. Wide receiver is one of them. Offensive tackle, running back and a defensive lineman are the others, with tackle still the leader in the clubhouse.

          @DNewtonESPN: See, a lot of wide receiver questions. General manager Dave Gettleman took defensive tackles in the first and second round in 2013 because he believes in building from the inside out. I can't see him doing that at receiver.

          @DNewtonESPN: Denarius Moore is still out there, and I'm a bit surprised. He definitely fits the mold of a speed receiver and special teams contributor the Panthers targeted, but the wide receiver spot on the roster is getting pretty full, and there's still the draft.

          @DNewtonESPN: Oh, that's easy. The best player available. If you want me to guess a specific name I could, but it would only be an educated guess. As I mentioned above, with what the Panthers have done in free agency and with the college players they have worked out privately, I'd say the best player between an offensive tackle, wide receiver or defensive lineman. But if you want a name now, I'll go with Florida tackle D.J. Humphries. He's a Charlotte kid, so that would make a good story.

          @DNewtonESPN: If I were Robert Lester I'd be concerned with the addition of safety Kurt Coleman. I still see Melvin White as a solid backup cornerback. Remember, he started most of the 2013 season and made one of the biggest plays of the season with that interception returned for a touchdown at Atlanta in the regular-season finale.

          @DNewtonESPN: Yes. And maybe the third or possibly fourth rounds as well.