The Carolina Panthers are serious about revamping their offense and supporting third-year quarterback Bryce Young. Following a 2025 NFL Draft that saw a wide-receiver-centric approach—most notably with Arizona’s No. 8 overall selection of Tetairoa McMillan—the Panthers picked up another intriguing piece: seasoned wide receiver Hunter Renfrow. The former Clemson star and Pro Bowler brings a veteran level of experience, reliability and street-clever route-running to a young, maturing offense in Charlotte.
This signing is coming home, so to speak, for Renfrow, who played his college football just a short drive away at Clemson and grew up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. With returning to the Carolinas, Renfrow has a chance at NFL redemption—and Bryce Young a trusted target once again.
A Hometown Panthers Signing with Veteran Pluses
The Panthers’ hiring of Renfrow on a one-year deal is at once practical and poetic. For a franchise trying to elevate a young quarterback who has shown flashes of brilliance under duress, a steady presence in the slot is a strict necessity. Renfrow, 29, is the ideal solution. He won’t be the biggest or most speedy receiver on the field, but his football smarts, route running, and hands have made him a quarterback’s go-to guy when healthy and used effectively.
The Carolina Panthers’ receiving corps has gotten a total makeover. In addition to McMillan, the Panthers spent a sixth-round draft choice on Colorado’s Jimmy Horn Jr. and already possesses 2024 first-rounder Xavier Legette, reliable veteran Adam Thielen and young firebrand Jalen Coker. Renfrow brings the leadership and short-yardage reliability that could be the glue to this group. It’s a high-reward, low-risk signing for a team eager to put back-to-back subpar seasons behind them.
From Pro Bowl Breakout to Redemption Arc
Renfrow arrived in the NFL in 2019 as a fifth-round Clemson draft choice and made a strong impression in Las Vegas. In 2021, he broke through and caught 103 passes for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns on his way to his initial Pro Bowl. He was a go-to target on clutch downs that year, showcasing elite-level separation skills and the skill to catch balls in traffic.
Things then shifted suddenly. Injuries and a shift in coaching philosophies with Josh McDaniels brought Renfrow down the Raiders’ depth chart. A 2022 concussion placed him on injured reserve, and he never was quite the same afterward. As of 2023, he was receiving few snaps and had a paltry 25 catches for 255 yards before being waived in March of 2024. Having missed much of the previous season while rested and healthy, Renfrow gets to start over on a team that may find a use for his particular set of skills.
Final Thoughts
The signing of Hunter Renfrow by the Panthers is a shrewd, low-profile signing that will pay off. It implies an increased focus on giving Young every chance to succeed with a more experienced, deeper receiving group. If Renfrow can reclaim even a fraction of his 2021 self, Carolina could have picked up one of the better values of the offseason. At the very least, he is a stabilizing force within a room that is starting to fill up with promise.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
