In a move to bolster their receiving corps, the Carolina Panthers have snapped up Daewood Davis—who showed his mettle in the United Football League (UFL)—to add more depth to their roster before kicking off training camp. According to the Panthers' official website, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Davis, who was a standout at the Memphis Showboats, has secured a place on the team as they reach the 90-player limit heading into the late July training camp preparatory period.
The road to the NFL hasn't been smooth for Davis; after going undrafted and signing with the Miami Dolphins in 2023, he experienced a setback when waived after sustaining an injury in a preseason game. Nevertheless, he escaped that low point by becoming one of the bright sparks in the UFL, having been named to the All-UFL team and catching 41 passes for 446 yards and five touchdowns during the recent 2024 UFL season despite the Showboats enduring a tough 2-8 finish, as reported by FOX13 Memphis.
It's not just about being good at catching the football; Davis pulled off an 82-yard touchdown reception against the Michigan Panthers on April 28, marked as the longest from scrimmage in the UFL for the season, as well as a notable 65-yard touchdown in May, demonstrating his capacity for big plays, which no doubt caught the eye of the Panthers' scouts. With such impressive numbers, Davis ranked sixth in total receptions and seventh in receiving yards in the league, according to The UFL's official site.
Joining the Panthers marks a second NFL opportunity for Davis, who initially came out of college as an undrafted free agent from Western Kentucky before the unfortunate injury while with the Dolphins. The Carolina team is banking on him to elevate a receiving group that, just as much as the offense as a whole struggled last NFL season with the team chalking up a 2-15 record, his skills alongside veteran receivers such as Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson could just be the spark the Panthers are looking for to turn the tide on their less than stellar performances from last year.
