Big and Small Impressions

Undrafted free agent Keyarris Garrett didn’t disappoint. Last year’s NCAA leader in receiving yards passed the eye test and showed good hands.

The question, of course, is why wasn’t he drafted — not just by the 31 other teams, but also by the Panthers.

“If we were looking for a wideout, we may have drafted him,” receivers coach Ricky Proehl said. “We had him as a draftable receiver. As the draft went, we weren’t really looking for a 6-3 or 6-4 wideout. We got that guy. But shoot, he’s there in the free agent market?”

I’ll post more from Proehl and Garrett in the next day or so.

I’ll also write something longer on 2015 UDFA Damiere Byrd, this weekend’s “veteran” wideout.

Byrd, who flashed at last year’s rookie minicamp despite his 5-foot-9, 175-pound frame, told me he’s put on about eight or nine pounds since then.

“He’ll love the fact that you guys would mention he looks bigger,” Rivera joked. “But he has a lot of confidence right now.”