CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- No position on the Carolina Panthers' roster has undergone a bigger evolution in the last year than wide receiver.

The position continues to be a work in progress, but the quality of weapons for quarterback Cam Newton is improving since he lost his top four wide receivers after the 2013 season.

There's a realistic chance that three -- possibly four -- of the top six receivers from a year ago will be different with the addition of second-round draft pick Devin Funchess, free agents Ted Ginn Jr. and Jarrett Boykin, and 2014 practice squad member Stephen Hill.

Trimming the group to six or seven players will be the staff's most difficult task.

But the overall upgrade could allow the Panthers to spread the field more, preventing teams from putting eight defenders in the box as they did much of last season.

“We want to be able to create a situation offensively where we can use the different personnel groups and we can run or pass out of those personnel groups,'' coach Ron Rivera said. “The more that we do that for [offensive coordinator] Mike [Shula] and the rest of the offense, the easier it's going to be on Cam as far as making things happen.''

This time a year ago, Carolina's wide receiver corps was comprised of first-round draft pick Kelvin Benjamin, free agent acquisitions Jerricho Cotchery, Jason Avant and Tiquan Underwood, and a group of six other receivers who hadn't caught a pass in an NFL game.

Underwood was cut in training camp and Avant was released in November.

Undrafted rookie Corey Brown developed into the third-biggest threat with 21 catches for 201 yards and one touchdown. But even his role could change with the evolution of this group.

Here's how I would rank the receivers after the draft: