Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman has acquired wide receiver Kevin Norwood from the Seattle Seahawks, sending an undisclosed 2017 draft pick in exchange for the 2014 fourth-round pick.
"Kevin gives us another player to compete at the wide receiver position," said Gettleman, per Panthers.com. "He has the size you look for along with toughness and smarts. We studied him a lot going into last year’s draft and we look forward to having him as part of our receiving corps."
The second-year wideout stands at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. He played in nine games for the Seahawks as a rookie, making two starts and racking up 102 yards on nine receptions.
Through three preseason games, Norwood has recorded two catches for 18 yards. The former-Alabama man caught 81 passes for 1,275 yards and 12 touchdowns as a member of the Crimson Tide in college.
With Kelvin Benjamin out for the year, the Panthers are in need of their young, promising receivers to step up and earn starting time out wide. Rookie Devin Funchess is the favorite to win the #1 job, however he is battling hamstring issues himself. Veteran receiver Jerricho Cotchery is also battling groin injury.
Second-year undrafted free agent Corey "Philly" Brown has tried hard in the off-season to replace Benjamin, however is having problems with drops.
As the depth chart is in limbo for the Panthers, now is the perfect opportunity for Kevin Norwood to break out and shine to his full potential. He has a very reasonable chance of earning a starting spot catching passes for Cam Newton. He'll have to carve his own fate, however.
Norwood earlier in the day was surrounded by rumors of his release from the Seahawks, but this trade is a much better scenario for the 25 year-old. The Panthers may have 11 totals wide receivers under contract, but don't count the physical NFL sophomore out of the conversation.
Teams have to cut down to their 53-man rosters by September 5th. Seattle is down to 75 after a series of moves Monday, and same is the case for Carolina.