Carolina signs fourth-round draft pick

Web posted July 8, 1998

Associated Press

CHARLOTTE -- Donald Hayes, a wide receiver selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round of the 1998 draft, signed a three-year contract Tuesday worth about $800,000.

Hayes, whose deal included a signing bonus of about $200,000, becomes the second of Carolina's eight draft picks to sign with the team, joining third-round pick Chuck Wiley, a defensive lineman.

The 6-foot-4, 208-pound Hayes, who led Wisconsin in receiving in each of his last two seasons with the Badgers, looked good in the Panthers' minicamp last month but is no lock to make Carolina's roster.

He figures to get plenty of competition at the team's training camp later this month from the likes of Rae Carruth, the Panthers' top 1997 draft choice, as well as returning veterans Mark Carrier, Raghib Ismail and Muhsin Muhammad. Another player in the mix heading to camp is Thabiti Davis, an undrafted rookie out of Wake Forest who drew repeated praise from Panthers coach Dom Capers during Carolina's minicamp.