While the rest of the NFC South appear to have found a true #1 receiver, Panthers fans are less certain of Kelvin Benjamin. Can Corey Davis become the wideout Carolina is searching for?

Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

Bio

As a true freshman, Davis had a 941-yard 2013 season, followed by 1,408 yards and 15 touchdowns on 78 catches in 2014. Davis finishes the 2015 campaign having caught 90 passes for 1,436 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Davis’s brother, Titus, racked up 3,700 yards receiving and 37 touchdowns during his impressive career at Central Michigan, but may have had mental health issues that stood in the way of NFL success.

CBS Sports' Rob Rang calls Davis a "smooth route runner, with advanced understanding of flanker, split end, and slot responsibilities. Rang continues, "He tracks the ball well over his shoulder, shows the ability to extend and pluck the ball from outside of his frame and is generally a reliable hands catcher."

Draftbreakdown

My pre-season thoughts

Davis has excellent overall ball skills, showing the body control to adjust to throws outside of his frame, and will often make the tough catch look routine. Outstanding college player, but lack of ideal measurables will likely keep him out of round one. Showing mature route-running, hands and deceptive speed, Davis is a versatile athlete who could line up either outside or as a slot receiver. Similar measurables to Jordan Matthews (Eagles, 42nd pick).

Update (From My Week 13 Risers)

Davis became the FBS' all-time receiving yardage leader (5,068) with his eight catches for 82 yards and a touchdown in last week's 55-35 win over Toledo. With the MAC championship game and a yet to be determined bowl game left, he currently has a nation-leading 17 touchdown receptions this season. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior has 83 receptions for 1,283 yards this year, and is the only player in FBS history with at least 300 receptions, 50 touchdowns and 5,000 yards in a career.

NFL.com Profile

Outstanding four-year production. A quarterback's friend who works aggressively back to the ball. Dominates in red zone. High-point catcher who uses well-timed leaps and long arms to win the 50-50 throws. Increases physicality and acceleration out of routes when operating near paydirt. Focuses like a laser when ball is in the air. Tracks the deep ball as well as anyone in college and understands how to stack cornerbacks and keep them on his hip. Has second gear to run under the long ball. Excels in intermediate and deep parts of the field.

Perhaps nobody is higher on Davis than Daniel Jeremiah, who recently ranked Davis #8 overall in his most recent top-50. Jeremiah explains

Davis has ideal height-weight-play speed for the position. He lines up inside and outside, and he's a very polished and precise route runner. He powers through press coverage and does a nice job of changing speeds and creating separation down the field. He attacks the football in the air with very strong hands and he's nifty after the catch. He doesn't have elite speed but he's plenty fast. Overall, Davis is an excellent player with both a high floor and a high ceiling.

Matt Miller has Davis ranked #11 overall, followed by CBS (#16), and Scouts Inc (#21), but Todd McShay penciled in Davis to the Titans with the fifth pick in his most recent mock draft. McShay explains.

Talking to teams at the Senior Bowl, there's a lot of buzz about Davis. He has good size (6-2, 205), elite production and is a smooth route-runner. Davis won't run the 40 at the combine because of an ankle injury, but if he's in the 4.4s at his pro day as expected, he could be a surprise top-10 pick.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, Davis declined his Senior Bowl invitation, then suffered a high-ankle sprain during training that will keep him out of the NFL Combine. Hopefully, he is able to participate in Western Michigan's pro-day, as I still have some doubts about his overall athletic ability. Certainly, he has the baseline traits to be in NFL receiver, but players like Jordan Matthews, Michael Thomas, Keenan Allen and Allen Robinson are examples of similarly sized players that were drafted after round one. While Davis has more consistent film and been more productive, he also played the majority of his games against weaker competition.

With Western Michigan's schedule, Davis didn't see a tough slate of talented cornerbacks, but produced 690 receiving yards and five touchdowns in eight career games against Big Ten competition, including games against Northwestern, Illinois, and Wisconsin in 2016.

Until Davis can workout, I am reluctant to heap the praise that others are giving him. Going against the masses, I consider him more of an early second round pick, but admit top-twenty appears inevitable. For my comp, I will go with DeVante Parker.

What are your thoughts?