Bucs Lose WR to Division Rival

Former Bucs wide receiver David Moore has found a new home with a familiar face. The Carolina Panthers have officially announced they have signed Moore.

David Moore making his way back to Carolina pic.twitter.com/SpdsgWSVjk

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) March 19, 2024

The move helps to bolster Carolina’s receiver depth with a veteran who contributed to the Bucs’ success late down the stretch last year. Moore, originally a seventh-round pick by the Seahawks in 2017, was signed by the Bucs last year as someone who former offensive coordinator Dave Canales was familiar with. While he had a solid pre-season with eight catches for 123 yards, he was ultimately left off the team’s final 53-man roster. Tampa Bay was able to sign him to the practice squad following his release.

Canales, now the head coach of the Panthers has once again prioritized that familiarity as he moves to a Panthers team that had one of the worst receiver rooms in the league last year.

Moore Provided Help For Bucs Down The Stretch

Following an injury to rookie Rakim Jarrett sustained in week 11 against the 49ers, Moore was called up from the practice squad a couple of times. Eventually Tampa Bay would sign him to the active

roster. He was able to provide help down the stretch, catching five of his six targets for 94 yards and a touchdown. His best game came against the Packers in week 15 when he caught two passes for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Moore would continue to provide help in the playoffs when he caught two passes for 66 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles in the Wildcard round before earning 11 yards on one catch against the Lions the following week. His touchdown catch against Philadelphia originally put the Bucs up by two scores in a game they would really never lose control of.

44-yard TD for David Moore! Bucs up 10.

(via NFL, ESPN)pic.twitter.com/8aZvUyWS8O

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 16, 2024

For his career, including the postseason, Moore has 89 catches for 1,392 yards and 15 touchdowns. Moore’s return helps to once again bolster the Bucs’ receiving depth and he will battle for a spot somewhere between WR4 and WR6 on the team.

Carolina Improving A Weakness

Moore is not the only addition the Panthers have made as they look to turn their franchise around and compete with the Bucs for the NFC South division title. On March 13th the Carolina traded cornerback Donte Jackson and a sixth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for receiver Diontae Johnson and a seventh-round pick. Johnson and Moore will now slot around 2023 second-round pick Jonathan Mingo to give 2023 number one overall pick Bryce Young a better supporting cast than he had in his rookie year.