NFL Draft grades: 10 first-round picks that get an A

D.J. Moore – Carolina Panthers (Pick #24)

A massive shock in this draft was the lack of elite talent at the wide receiver position. That was evident as the first round went on and there was no receivers coming off the board. The Carolina Panthers changed that with the 24th pick and Maryland’s D.J. Moore.

Moore beat out fellow receiver Alabama’s Calvin Ridley for the first taken off the board. That came to a shock to most as Ridley led the conversation throughout the draft cycle. However Carolina and Moore are a match made in heaven.

Quarterback Cam Newton saw his options at receiver diminish with each passing week last season. By the end of the year he was throwing to breakout player Devin Funchess and a cast-off of others. Enter Moore. The former Terrapin is an elite athlete with breakaway speed and agility. Only 21 years old, a full three years younger than Ridley, the potential for stardom is in Moore’s path.

Moore will give Newton and this offense something it does not have at the moment. Built like a running back, Moore possesses a rare ability to make plays with the ball in his hand. He will compliment the big red-zone threat in Funchess perfectly. With last year’s second round pick Curtis Samuel in the slot and the Panthers receivers are a well-balanced group of targets. Moore’s big catch radius and tenacity will win over Newton early and he has a chance to be a game-changer the minute he steps on the field.