The Carolina Panthers are sitting at 2-2, but the early-season split has not masked the bigger issue: the defense still hasn’t taken the step the front office wanted after an offseason full of additions on that side of the ball.
That’s why a name like Solomon Thomas starts to make sense. NFL analyst Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report floated the Tennessee Titans veteran as a possible trade target for Carolina, and the fit is easy to see if the Panthers decide they need help before the deadline. Knox assigned Thomas a conditional seventh-round draft pick as his trade value, which is the kind of price that could tempt a team looking for immediate depth without giving up much.
Thomas was drafted third overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers and has built a solid career since then. He still hasn’t made a Pro Bowl, but he remains the kind of veteran lineman who can strengthen a rotation and give a defense a little more punch.
The Titans’ situation only adds to the possibility. Thomas has played just 25 percent of Tennessee’s defensive snaps, a number that raises obvious questions about his role. With the Titans off to another rough start, a move could make sense for both sides, especially if Thomas wants a fresh opportunity.
For Carolina, the appeal goes beyond the rest of this season. Thomas is set to become a free agent after the year, so the Panthers wouldn’t be tying themselves to any long-term money if the move doesn’t pay off. Even if he doesn’t transform the defense, he could raise the ceiling of the group and provide useful depth.
Thomas has appeared in all four games for Tennessee and has seven total tackles this season. Last year with the Dallas Cowboys, he finished with 27 total tackles and one pass deflection.
In Other News...
Panthers Survived The Injury Wave And Now Relief May Be Near
The Panthers have spent the first month of the season juggling one injury report after another, yet they somehow emerged from that stretch at 2-2 and with a little momentum intact. Key players have landed on injured reserve, others have sat out games, and the roster has been in near-constant motion, forcing the coaching staff to keep adjusting on the fly while trying to protect a decent start.
A bye week now offers the first real chance for some relief, with Trevor Etienne, Taylor Moton and Tershawn Wharton among the players who could be back in play afterward. Nothing is official until medical clearance comes through, but even the possibility of getting healthier is a welcome shift for a team that has had to win with a patchwork lineup and could use some stability as the schedule tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Is Giving Panthers Fans A New Way To Clap Back
Bryce Youngs second season has given Panthers fans something they did not have a year ago: a clear, football-backed answer when the conversation turns negative. After a rocky rookie campaign, Young has looked far more comfortable this season, his passing production has jumped and his efficiency has taken a step forward under coach Dave Canales, even while Carolina has had to work through injuries around him. His progress has turned him into a central piece of the offense and changed the mood around a player who was too quickly written off by plenty of outsiders.
Robert Griffin III added fuel to that shift by publicly calling for apologies to Young from the people who labeled him a bust, a sentiment Panthers supporters have been eager to embrace. For a team and fan base that spent so much of last season defending the quarterbacks long-term outlook, Youngs growth has created a new kind of comeback narrative, one that lets Carolina clap back with performance instead of projection. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Win Has Dan Campbell Sending A Message To Detroit
The Lions loss to Carolina only sharpened the scrutiny on a defense that has been leaking yards all season, and Dan Campbell wasted little time addressing the bigger picture in Detroit. With Kelvin Sheppard staying on as defensive coordinator, Campbell made clear the organization is not treating this as a quick fix. He described the unit as a work in progress while also signaling that more players will get chances to prove they belong.
Detroits struggles have become hard to ignore, with the defense sitting last in the league in passing yards allowed and total yards surrendered per game. Campbells message was less about panic than accountability, and it came with a firm line about standards. The Lions can keep searching for answers, but they are not going to excuse mediocrity while trying to find them. [Read more 🡒]