The Carolina Panthers have signed veteran free-agent receiver Chris Hogan to a one-year deal, the team announced Friday.
Hogan, who is coming off a season in which he totaled 35 receptions for 532 yards and three touchdowns for the New England Patriots, brings veteran experience to a Carolina receiving corps that moved on from 2015 second-round pick Devin Funchess and Damiere Byrd.
#Panthers sign WR Chris Hogan ✍️ pic.twitter.com/WsM5oL8Yr8
— House Carolina (@Panthers) April 12, 2019
Hogan, who turns 32 in October, is the oldest receiver on the roster, ahead of Torrey Smith, who will turn 31 in January.
The experience is key with the team’s top two receivers 2018 first-round pick DJ Moore (21) and 2017 second-round pick Curtis Samuel (22). Moore took over the No. 1 receiver spot midway through last season when Funchess had five dropped passes in a loss to the Lions. Samuel moved into the No. 2 slot with the Panthers going with more youth and speed.
Some had projected a bigger season for Hogan in 2018, given that receiver Julian Edelman opened the season by serving a four-game NFL suspension and several other receivers the Patriots hoped would emerge didn’t pan out.
That thrust Hogan, who was held without a catch on six targets in Super Bowl LIII, into a front-line role at various points of the season. The Patriots, however, seemed to like his fit best as a No. 3 or 4 option, as evidenced by how his snaps declined after the club traded for Josh Gordon in mid-September.
In 40 regular-season games for the Patriots over the 2016-2018 seasons, Hogan totaled 107 receptions for 1,651 yards and 12 touchdowns. In nine playoff games, he totaled eight catches for 58 yards.
The Patriots had signed Hogan to a three-year, $12 million contract as a restricted free agent from the Buffalo Bills in March of 2016.
ESPN’s David Newton and Mike Reiss contributed to this report.