This is my first attempt to break down a particular position for the 2007 season. I think WR is a good place to start as I think only two of five roster spots are 100% locks. I will take a look at each of the remaining WR currently on the roster and try to predict who will make the team.

Let’s start by getting the locks out of the way: Steve Smith (5-9, 185) and Dwayne Jarrett (6-5, 215) are 100% locks. Smith is a stud and one of the top three WR in the NFL. Dwayne Jarrett is a 2nd round pick who will be given at least one season to learn the system.

I started to include Drew Carter (6-3, 200) in the 100% lock club but then I thought there is a small (say 5%) chance he bombs in camp and gets cut or traded. Drew has the speed and height to be the other downfield threat the Panthers need to keep the FS from cheating over on Smith. He just hasn’t mastered the mental part yet and there is some question of his strength and toughness. The guy seems to get knocked off his routes or is just not getting open.

Ryne Robinson (5-9, 179) was drafted to handle the punt return duties so I think there is a 90% chance he will make the roster. We may not even need to include him in the five WR roster spots and instead allocate him to special teams. I feel there is a 10% chance he gets a case of fumblitis in the pre-season and becomes a victim of the final roster cut. He would have to put multiple balls on the turf for that to happen. On a side note, this guy reminds me of when Steve Smith came into the league as a shifty little punt returner. Every time I saw him in action I just knew the Panthers needed to figure out how to get this guy on the field more. At the time of his entry the prevalent thinking was a NFL WR had to be 6-4 and 200+ pounds. Smith and Santana Moss destroyed that paradigm in 2005. Maybe Ryne will follow in his footsteps.

Kerry Colbert (6-1, 200) is my pick as the player from last years’ squad to get cut or traded. He has shown flashes of talent at times strictly in pre-season. Overall he doesn’t possess the speed to be a threat downfield and hasn’t shown a penchant for getting open on the key possession downs (ref: Panthers miserable 2006 3rd down completion %). I think Kerry has one last chance to show he is going to reach his potential or the Panthers will be more inclined to go with another option that provides more of a downfield threat. I see his chances being 50-50 to make the team.

If Colbert gets cut I see his roster spot going to Taye Biddle (6-1, 185) or Chris Horn (5-11, 195) Both players got high praise from OTA’s, both appear to provide downfield threats and both have displayed excellent hands. Biddle is on his second year after spending 2006 on the practice squad. Horn came over after spending a couple seasons in KC. I’ll give the tiebreaker to Biddle for having such a cool sounding name. Taye Biddle Biddle the Cat and the Fiddle...lol   I say Biddle has a 50% chance and Horn a 40% chance of making the roster.

Julius McCullum (6-4, 220) just finished a season with NFL Europa’s Amsterdam Admirals. I don’t know much about the guy but when I saw his NFL mug shot on the team page he looks like he brought back some of that Amsterdam hash in a Michael Vick water bottle! Dude, quit hanging with Snoop Dog or Goodell will end your career before it starts. Seriously though, given his size and weight he seems more of a possession type of receiver of which we have enough. Jaxon says he has a 10% chance of making the roster. He has a 60% chance of making the practice squad.

Jahkeen Gilmore (6-0, 211) UDFA from Indiana Univ. He looks like practice squad material at best. Good luck buddy cause your chance of making the roster is about 2.5%. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to post I was wrong about you because it would be a feel-good story from camp. Your better chance is the practice squad, which I put at a 20% chance.

Well, there you have it. Smith, Jarrett and Carter are the starters with Robinson and Biddle backing them up. If Robinson gets allocated to special teams then I see Chris Horn getting the last spot leaving Colbert on the outside.

So, what do you think? If you disagree, lets hear your predictions.