Panthers sign WR Cotchery
Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery signed a two-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Cotchery caught 45 passes for 602 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, primarily working out of the slot. He's not a speed burner, but Cotchery is a sure-handed veteran entering his 11th season.
The 31-year-old returns to the region where he starred in college at North Carolina State, and bolsters a receiving corps in desperate need of proven pass catchers. The Panthers cut Steve Smith and lost Brandon LaFell (New England Patriots), Ted Ginn Jr. (Arizona Cardinals) and Domenik Hixon (Chicago Bears) in free agency.
Before Cotchery's signing, the top receivers on the roster were Marvin McNutt and Tavarres King, who sport a combined zero career NFL receptions.
The Panthers are still expected to target the position eaarly in the NFL Draft in May.
Cotchery's departure leaves another void for the Steelers, who also lost wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders to the Denver Broncos in free agency. Antonio Brown is the only experienced receiver still on the roster.
The team will be counting heavily on 2013 rookie Marcus Wheaton to develop quickly into an expanded role, and reportedly met with former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore this week.
