The Facts: According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Panthers are working on signing Shepard, who has emerged from special teams to thrive as a pass-catcher.
Diehards Line:Shepard had his best season as a receiver in 2016 for the Buccaneers. He caught 23 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns last season. All three marks set career-highs. Shepard has appeared in 57 games for Tampa Bay over the last four seasons. His most productive special teams campaign came in 2014 with 14 solo tackles. As Profootballtalk.com notes, Shepard could give Carolina a viable alternative for Ted Ginn, who left the Panthers to sign with the New Orleans Saints.