Corey

Brown

The ex-Panther was signed 18 days ago. Provided it’s not a season-ending ailment, Brown figures to be released from injured reserve with a settlement once he’s back to full health.

If he does, that leaves at most two spots for Stephen Hill (knee), Brenton Bersin, Kevin Norwood, and Damiere Byrd. Hill was reportedly showing well last offseason before tearing his ACL, and he has enough physical upside to warrant a spot on the roster. Unless one of the top three suffers an injury, there is not going to be any fantasy value to be found in this lot.

Brown will not play in the third preseason game because of a shoulder injury. Newton does not believe the injury will necessarily cost him a spot, but it could if Kevin Norwood or Stephen Hill show out Friday night. Newton adds Brown does not bring anything different to the table than Damiere Byrd, who the Panthers seemed to be enamored with.

Brown weighed 178 pounds at the 2014 Combine, so 200 pounds is quite a jump in just two years. He claims the added weight has not affected his speed. Brown is expected to serve as the No. 4 behind Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess, and Ted Ginn.

Both players are now unrestricted free agents, but it will not be surprising if they re-sign in Carolina for less than the $1.797 million the low tender would have paid. Brown quietly had a decent role in the Panthers’ passing game last year, but he only managed to catch 27-of-53 targets for 276 yards and a touchdown.

25-year-old Brown is familiar with new coach Sean McDermott, whose defense had to cover him in practice in Carolina. Not fast enough (4.51) to profile as a dangerous deep threat or big enough (5'11/173) to win with his body, Brown is a No. 4 receiver type. In Buffalo, he will have an opportunity for immediate playing time. At present, Walt Powell, Dezmin Lewis, and Kolby Listenbee are the Bills’ only other wideouts under contract behind Sammy Watkins.

Brown is a 5'11/190 deep threat who wasn’t tendered an offer as a restricted free agent by the Panthers. He’s averaged 13.8 YPR across 94 career grabs the past three seasons, while reeling in eight touchdowns.

It seems like half the Panthers’ roster went under the knife this offseason. Mario Addison, Ryan Delaire, Luke Kuechly and Scott Simonson are all coming off shoulder operations. Brown missed two games with a shoulder injury last November. With Jerricho Cotchery gone and Kelvin Benjamin returning from a torn ACL, Brown figures to see more time in the slot this year.

The ex-Panther followed Sean McDermott to Buffalo this offseason but didn’t do enough to keep his roster spot. The 25-year-old has totaled 79 catches for 1,019 yards and seven touchdowns over 43 NFL appearances.

The Giants are still in the market for wideouts after promoting Ed Eagan from the practice squad. Demarcus Ayers, Kalif Raymond, Jeremy Ross and Canaan Severin also visited, but none would be impact signings.