Carolina Panthers’ Jalen Coker earned breakthrough deal 

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Carolina Panthers receiver Jalen Coker went from undrafted rookie in 2024 to an established pass-catching asset with a three-year, $35 million contract extension.

At a half-empty Highmark Stadium, most, if not all, starters and second teamers were safely stashed along the sidelines in the fourth quarter of a 2024 preseason game between the Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills. To undrafted rookie receiver Jalen Coker, lined up opposite Bills rookie cornerback Kyron Brown, it was his time.  

Coker’s life was about to change.

On third-and-3, quarterback Jack Plummer took the shotgun snap, prompting Brown to take a step back and Coker to move forward with a hop-skip before bursting to the outside. Brown failed to divert the former Holy Cross standout, allowing Coker to cruise upfield. Plummer released a high-arching pass that Coker snared at the 4 for what he considers his first NFL touchdown. 

While some only count regular-season scores, Coker doesn’t care. He embraced a breakout moment, a catch that helped fuel his meteoric rise up the depth chart and his first major payday last week. 
During Monday’s teleconference, Coker was asked about the life-changing, three-year, $35 million extension he signed on the final day of mandatory minicamp. 

How big was that preseason catch? 

“Personally, It was awesome,” said. “I mean, it was great. It was something I always wanted to do, (scoring) my first NFL touchdown. I know some guys might disagree, but, you know, preseason counts all the same. That was an awesome moment for me, personally.” 

Focused on long-term improvement 

With less than three minutes remaining in the NFC Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams in January, Coker lined up opposite cornerback Cam Kurl.  

Most of the able-bodied competitors were on the field with under three minutes remaining and the Panthers trailing, 27-24. To Coker, it was showtime. Beating Kurl to the corner of the end zone, quarterback Bryce Young lofted a pass that Coker corralled for a go-ahead 7-yard score. 

It wouldn’t hold up as the Rams rallied to upend the Panthers despite Coker compiling a team-high nine catches for 134 yards.  His life was about to change – again. 

While keeping recent contract extension talk silent, Coker’s agent, Generation Sports Group’s Matthew Glose, negotiated a $41 million maximum value deal.  

Coker, who missed the first six weeks last of the 2025 season because of injury, compiled 65 catches for 872 yards and five touchdowns during his two seasons with the Panthers, evolving into a piece of the franchise’s future.  

While drafted players inherit initial advantages, namely starting their professional careers with four- or five-year contracts, Coker helped pave the way for top undrafted players to receive early paydays. While most drafted players do not become free agent eligible until their age 27 or 28 seasons, Coker has the potential for a second free-agent haul at 29.     

“My message to all those (undrafted) guys is to continue to keep working, continue to grind, trust the work and be prepared when your number is called,” he said. “I think that’s what sprung me into the position I was, where I was thrown in here and there. And then I would make a play here and there.  

“That kinda got the ball rolling for me, I think.” 

All the way to the bank. 

Mapping a long-term plan 

With the Panthers on summer break until July 22, Coker enters training camp as the second option at receiver, behind 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan and ahead of 2024 first-round draft pick Xavier Legette. Coker said his primary professional plan is to remain with the franchise for the next eight seasons.  

He wants another payday or two. 

“It was a huge opportunity for me,” Coker said. “Your dream is to always go get to the NFL, of course, but to stay around and continue to contribute and make an impact every Sunday, that’s always been my goal. This wasn’t the end of my story. This isn’t where I want to be finished at. I just want to continue to build, continue to do good things for this organization down the line. Hopefully, I can stay for eight more years.  

“I didn’t want it to be like I finally made it; I can relax, I can take the foot off the gas a little bit. No, now I’ve got to prove it even more.” 

Like he did in the fourth quarter of the 2024 preseason finale. 

Despite his training camp effort, though, Coker didn’t survive 2024’s Cutdown Day. But he proved to be an interesting prospect. Then first-year Panthers general manager Dan Morgan signed Coker to the practice squad after the other 31 franchises declined his services off the waiver wire. 

“I don’t know what (the Buffalo catch) did up in the (front) office,” Coker joked. “I don’t know how it affected anything, but I know for me, personally and my family, it was sweet.” 
Sweet enough to help change his life.  

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