One of the most pressing needs for the Carolina Panthers this offseason was solidifying who would be the team's kick returner after shuffling through six different players at the position in 2019.
The Panthers might have found their guy with the signing Havelock, N.C. native, Pharoh Cooper, who signed a one-year deal this offseason.
"When my agent talked to me about Carolina I got excited," Cooper said during his media availability on Thursday. "It was an opportunity I want to take advantage of being back home where my family can see me. It's great to be back home and try to put on for the home city this year."
Cooper, 25, is only a few years removed from being named first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 2017, with the Los Angeles Rams, but after suffering an ankle injury in 2018, Cooper was released by the Rams and later the Cincinnati Bengals before bouncing back some with the Arizona Cardinals in 2019.
"It's been frustrating," Cooper said. "I'm trying to get back to that form and I know I can get back to that form of being the Pro Bowl and All-Pro returner returning kicks. That's the goal for this year fighting to win that job."
Cooper had 932 yards and a touchdown as the Rams kickoff returner in 2017 in 34 kickoff returns along with 399 yards on 32 punt returns.
Most notably, Cooper scored a 103-yard kick-return that season to earn him NFC Special Teams Player of The Week.
That type of production is what Cooper is hoping to bring to Carolina.
"Just explosive plays, man," Cooper said. "Just get the ball back to the offense, whether it'd be a fair-catch, a big 20-yard gain, 50-yard gain or a touchdown, just trying to make explosive plays every time I'm returning. I want to have those guys trust me back there...I'm just hoping to make a lot of plays this year."
Cooper also would like to bring the Panthers wide receiver depth if he's asked to do so.
He already made a huge catch from quarterback Will Grier in practice during the first day of pads this week.
Last year with the Cardinals, Cooper had a career-high 25 receptions for 243 yards and a touchdown.
"Punt returner and kick returner is fun, don't get me wrong, but I'm a receiver first," Cooper said. "Returner is something I'm good at and what I do and I can help team doing that but obviously, I do want to be on the field as a receiver making plays helping the team get up and down the field and when that opportunity comes I'll take advantage of it."
Head coach Matt Rhule and offensive coordinator Joe Brady have already seen the work being put in.
"Joe (Brady) said to me the other day that he's a guy that was brought in as a returner but has done a really nice job at receiver," Rhule said. "He can help us as a receiver and run after the catch and get open. He knows the routes, he works really hard and I've been pleased with Pharoh. He's been one of the guys this camp that's showed me something."
The Panthers could very well give Cooper more reps at wide receiver in 2020, but for now, Cooper has his thoughts set on being the starting kick returner.
"Everybody's goal is to become the starter at whatever position coach puts them at," Cooper said. "Absolutely I want to be the starter at kick/punt returner, but it's the preseason so everything is written in pencil right now. We'll see Week 1 who coach wants back there."