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The Carolina Panthers selected former LSU Tigers wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. with the No. 59 pick overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He possesses plenty of traits that should translate well to the NFL and become a contributor quickly in this offense.
Marshall broke through in 2019 with LSU’s incredible offense that might have been the best ever with Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson also catching passes from Joe Burrow. Marshall played just seven games in the 2020 season before opting out, and he caught 48 passes for 731 yards with 10 touchdown receptions.
Scouting Report
At 6-foot-2, Marshall has the size and speed the Panthers should be excited about. He figures to be a dangerous threat in the red zone, and that was evident in college with the number of touchdowns he scored for the Tigers. LSU had plenty of issues last season following the national title victory the previous year, and the lack of energy was evident throughout the roster including Marshall. With hard work and focus, Marshall has all the tools to be a real playmaker at the next level.
Fantasy football impact
Rookie
The Panthers lost Curtis Samuel to the Washington Football Team, but Marshall can slide into the WR3 spot. Robby Anderson and DJ Moore cracked the top 15 in receiving yards last year while Christian McCaffrey missed all but three games, so Marshall could be hard-pressed to get targets consistently. Sam Darnold will have to get used to his new receiving corps and Marshall will likely be third or fourth on the depth chart. Don’t expect the LSU rookie to be one of 2021’s most impactful receivers.
Long-term
There’s no telling what the Panthers’ receiver room could look like in a few years, and Marshall has a chance to excel once he moves up the ranks. He has a potent mix of strength and speed and averaged more than 100 receiving yards per game in 2020 after Ja’Marr Chase opted out. Marshall probably isn’t suited for super stardom, but can become a reliable WR2 if he reaches his peak.