General Info

6'4", 220 lbs. 25 years old
Illinois

Young was a 7th round draft pick last and was mainly used on special teams. He is buried on the Panther depth chart but has a shot if a few of the older receivers like Muhammad and Proehl become injured or leave the team.

Mike Anderson's Thoughts

2004 Outlook

WR Walter Young is battling with WR Karl Hankton for the #4/#5 spot on the Panthers. He's behind WRs Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammad, Keary Colbert, and most likely Ricky Proehl. Young is not even getting a good look this preseason as injuries are slowing him down. He's already listed as questionable for the August 28th preseason game vs. New England due to a knee problem. Given his recent poor performances, and his inability to showcase his wares due to injury, it's not impossible to believe that the Panthers could even let him go.

If there is a young WR on the Panthers that is poised to become something special, it's rookie Keary Colbert. Young is absolutely worthless to a Fantasy Owner in 2004, and should be on any roster in any format.

2007 Outlook

It's just more of the same in 2007. Real world, he's out of the NFL, working in construction, real estate, or as a security guard. If he is still in the NFL, Young is no longer a member of the Panthers, who found that they had no need for him when a younger WR came in and beat him out. He's trying to hold on somewhere in the NFL, and at best could be a useful #3 NFL WR. Even if that is the case, Young is still not a useful fantasy WR, and should not be on a roster.

Final Thoughts

There will never be a time over the course of the next four seasons that Walter Young should be on your roster.

Andy Hicks' Thoughts

2004 OUTLOOK

Unless Walter Young is a special teams standout, then he faces a battle to make the roster this year. Ahead of him you'll definitely find Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammad, Keary Colbert, & Ricky Proehl. Depending on how many receivers Carolina wants to keep, he'll be in a 8 way battle for 1 or 2 spots.

Drew Carter, the Panthers 5th round pick this year is likely to miss the season
With a 4.36 in the 40-yard dash and a 39½-inch vertical jump he'll be tucked away for next year Young still has to beat out other guys who are more than capable of NFL roster spots. I would rate at the very least Karl Hankton as a better option. Hankton was seen in the first half in the first preseason game, as was Eugene Baker.

• From a few nights ago in the 3rd quarter
  Carolina Panthers at 4:11, (1st play from scrimmage 4:06)
  • 1-10-CAR 33 (4:06) 16-C.Weinke pass incomplete to 83-W.Young.
    PENALTY on WAS-22-Ra. Brown, Illegal Contact, 5 yards, enforced at CAR 33 - No Play. X9
  • 1-10-CAR 38 (4:01) 16-C.Weinke pass incomplete to 83-W.Young.
    PENALTY on CAR-83-W.Young, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced at CAR 38 - No Play.
  • 1-15-CAR 33 (3:56) 16-C.Weinke pass to 83-W.Young to CAR 39 for 6 yards (39-R.Clark).
  • 2-9-CAR 39 (3:16) 16-C.Weinke sacked at CAR 32 for -7 yards (59-D.Lemons).
    Time-out #1 by CAR at 02:42.
  • 3-16-CAR 32 (2:42) 16-C.Weinke pass to 85-K.Colbert for 68 yards, TOUCHDOWN. P10
  • 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.
• Young looks to be about 6th or 7th on the depth chart

2007 OUTLOOK

Telling everybody he knows he used to play in the NFL.

Final Thoughts

Lucky to hang onto a roster spot. Last year Walter Young had 7 targets and zero receptions. He'll repeat on the receptions part.

Quotations from the Message Board Thread

To view the Entire Message Board Thread, click here.

ConstruxBoy:
Don't have any stat projections, just thoughts. I always thought of Young as a decent Keyshawn clone (minus the attitude): Tall, slow, good hands, not a leaper. Someone who could be a 2nd WR if you had a speedster at the #1 WR. However, Steve Smith is still young and the Panthers just drafted Keary Colbert, whom I view as a better alternative at that 2nd WR spot than Young. I imagine that Young could be the Panthers 3rd WR of the future, but I think that usually teams like their 3rd WR to be a quick, slot WR type, which doesn't fit Young at all. IMHO, 4th at best now and in the future, at least on the Panthers.

WinningIsEverything:
I tend to agree with ConstruxBoy here. Young has good size, but not too much else. I get to see almost all of the Illinois games (usually good for a nap) and I did not see anything that would make him stand out. Steve Smith is the unquestioned #1 and Colbert will be the #2. I do not think Young has a chance at #3 either as there are better prospects out there. 2004: Special teams. 2007: Would you like fries with that?

Extra Point:
Another longshot receiver buried on the depth chart. Just like all the rest in the same situation... Recommendation: Dump.