The Carolina Panthers head into the offseason with a clear need at wide receiver, and a new trade proposal has stirred up some interesting conversation around how they might look to address it.
While the Panthers have seen some bright spots in their receiving corps-Tetairoa McMillan is already flashing star potential, and Jalen Coker looks like he could be one of those undrafted gems-there’s still a noticeable lack of depth behind them. And with former first-rounder Xavier Legette trending in the wrong direction, it’s no surprise Carolina might be exploring outside options to bolster the group around Bryce Young.
One name being floated? Roman Wilson of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The proposed trade would send Wilson to Carolina in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick. On paper, it’s a low-risk move for a team that needs bodies-and potential-at the position.
Wilson, a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, hasn’t found his footing in Pittsburgh. Injuries derailed his rookie year, and this past season, he managed just 12 receptions for 166 yards and two touchdowns.
It’s not the kind of production that turns heads, but there’s more to the story.
Wilson was a standout at Michigan, especially in his final year, when he posted 48 catches for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns. That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident.
He’s got the speed, he’s got the hands, and he showed an ability to separate at the college level. The question is whether that skill set can translate in a new environment-and whether Carolina is the right place for that transition.
For the Panthers, the appeal is obvious. They need more weapons for Young, and they need them now.
The offensive line is still a work in progress, the run game has been inconsistent, and without reliable targets outside of McMillan, defenses have had little trouble keying in on Carolina’s passing attack. Adding a player like Wilson, who still has upside and comes at a bargain-bin price, could be a smart way to take a flier on a potential contributor without tying up major draft capital.
But there’s also the other side of the coin. If Carolina’s front office believes in the depth of this year’s draft class at wide receiver-and it is a deep one-they might prefer to use that sixth-round pick on a rookie with a clean slate and more team control. That’s the balancing act: do you take a chance on a player who’s already been in the league for two seasons and hasn’t produced, or do you roll the dice on a new prospect?
There’s no denying Wilson’s talent. He just hasn’t had the opportunity-or maybe the right fit-to show it at the next level. A move to Carolina could give him that chance, especially on a roster still searching for reliable options behind its top two receivers.
It’s not a blockbuster move, and it’s not going to solve all of Carolina’s offensive issues. But in a league where depth can make or break a season, adding a player like Wilson for a late-round pick might be the kind of calculated risk that pays off. At the very least, it would give the Panthers another option-and Bryce Young another target-as they continue building around their young quarterback.