CHARLOTTE — The Panthers could be looking at more kickoff returns next season, though that's fine with them anyway.

Now, they just need to find someone to return them.

The league's competition committee has recommended moving the spot for touchbacks to the 35-yard line, which should encourage more returns next year.

The Panthers received a league-high 112 kickoffs last season, which was the most in the league by a wide margin. (Setting an all-time record for points allowed in a season means the other guys kick off a lot).

Of that total, 66 were touchbacks taken at the 30, which was tied for fourth-most in the league. Under the proposed rules (which will have to be approved at next week's owners meeting), that could have been another 330 hypothetical yards for the Panthers last season.

But the math isn't that simple since the new rules would change the incentive structure for teams (teams were causal about giving up the 30, but won't be about the 35). Competition committee chair Rich McKay told reporters that the league anticipates the rate of returns to go up to between 60 percent and 70 percent if the recommendation passes.

Last year, only 32.8 percent of kickoffs were returned in the new "dynamic kickoff" setup, up from 21.8 percent the year before when a touchback placed the ball at the 20.

Of course, Panthers special teams coach Tracy Smith has always been an advocate of returning it rather than taking the touchback anyway, which is why their touchback percentage was comparatively low. The Panthers were last in the league in average drive start last year, beginning their possessions at the 28.8-yard line (about a yard short of the league average).

Returner Raheem Blackshear was second in the league in gross return yards with 791 last season, but that was also a function of having so many chances. His 25.5-yard average was solid but 2.1 yards off the league average of 27.6. He wasn't tendered an offer as a restricted free agent and remains unsigned.

And at the moment, the Panthers don't have an obvious answer for that job. Granted, it's March 27, and there are still free agent options available and the draft ahead, so there's plenty of time to find a returner.

Among players on the roster today, wide receiver David Moore would likely be among the top options. He has a workmanlike 8.5-yard per punt return average and some experience on kickoffs.

Wideout Xavier Legette also has done it serviceably, returning four kicks for 102 yards last year (25.5 per). Running back Rico Dowdle has returned 10 kickoffs in his four seasons with the Cowboys, but like Legette, his anticipated role on offense makes it less likely that he'd fill that role.