Paul Richardson rumors: 5 best fits in NFL free agency

4. Carolina Panthers

In the prime of his career, Cam Newton needs help around him. The Panthers didn’t feel Kelvin Benjamin was the answer and traded him away at the trade deadline. Devin Funchess put together an impressive third year but that’s just one piece of the equation. There’s a need for receiver depth in Carolina and with cap room to spare, Richardson is a good fit.

Richardson could easily move from one NFC contender to the other. I would argue that the Panthers are in a better position moving forward than the Seahawks. But with that being said, they still only averaged 192.3 passing yards per game last season, good for fifth worst in the NFL. In a division that’s only getting more competitive, the offense needs weapons. Trusting an aging tight end in Greg Olsen along with Christian McCaffrey and Funchess isn’t enough if you want to compete for a Super Bowl.

Richardson excelled with Russell Wilson and would do the same with a similar quarterback in Newton. Yes, Newton is a bigger-bodied quarterback but also has the ability to play out of pocket and on the run. He’s also got a bigger and more explosive arm than Wilson. Richardson’s yards per reception were at a career high last season. That vertical threat only increases when Newton is throwing the football.

A move from the West to East Coast isn’t always ideal but this makes a ton of sense. Richardson could be a No. 2 receiver in a team that’s built for postseason success next season.