4 Buccaneers who Dave Canales might steal with him to Carolina
- Depth on the OL
- A veteran LB
- A couple of WRs
By Ryan Heckman
3. Deven Thompkins, WR
The Panthers are a team in desperate need of playmakers, especially at the wide receiver position. Their top target is a 34-year-old Adam Thielen, and from there, last year's rookie Jonathan Mingo.
Carolina has a few wide receivers set to enter free agency, between D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault, Stephen Sullivan and Ihmir Smith-Marsette, all of whom I would guess they let go of. This is a room that needs revamping, and Canales could choose to bring one of a couple with him.
Deven Thompkins came on in training camp and the preseason as an absolute burner. We obviously know him as a return specialist with minimal work on offense. But, he's shown flashes of being a playmaker. For someone who knows Canales and his tendencies, Thompkins would be a low-cost option for the Panthers to bring in. He could give them depth toward the bottom of their wide receiver room and a possible starter at either return spot.
This past season, Thompkins caught only 17 passes for the Bucs, with one touchdown. He also rushed eight times for 56 yards, with four of those carries going for first downs. He's a versatile player the Panthers could use in multiple ways.