The Panthers’ defense has already shown both extremes through two weeks, and the one area that still looks shaky is the run defense.
Carolina opened the season with a nightmare in Week 1, giving up more than 550 yards of offense and 59 points to the Chicago Bears in one of the worst defensive showings in franchise history. Week 2 went much better, but that came against a Cooper Rush-led Atlanta Falcons offense that wasn’t exactly a fair measuring stick. Even so, the Panthers forced five turnovers in the 34-3 win in Atlanta, collecting three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
What hasn’t been cleaned up yet is the interior against the run. Carolina currently owns the NFL’s worst run-stuff percentage at 4%, a number that makes it fair to wonder whether the front has been sturdy enough, even with just two games on the books.
That’s where a possible trade target comes in. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox put together his NFL trade block big board ahead of Week 3, and one of the names on it is Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne. Payne has spent his entire career in Washington and has already put together a Pro Bowl season in 2022, when he recorded 64 tackles and 11.5 sacks.
He hasn’t gotten back over 60 tackles since that season, but he’s still been productive. Payne posted 53 tackles in 2022, then 42 and 46 in the following two seasons. For Carolina, that would still be a meaningful upgrade over Bobby Brown III, whose career high is 44 tackles, and that came with the LA Rams, not the Panthers.
The price, according to Knox, would be a third-round pick. No player would need to be included in the deal.
There’s risk attached, of course. Payne is a free agent after this season, and Carolina already has major contract calls coming with Bryce Young and Mike Jackson. But if the Panthers believe they can win now and the offense keeps rolling, a move to strengthen the defense would fit the moment.
In Other News...
Browns Crowd Drama Just Added Heat To Panthers Trip To Cleveland
The Panthers trip to Cleveland now comes with a little extra edge, even beyond the football itself. Deshaun Watson has been under heavy booing and criticism from Browns fans after the teams early-season struggles, and the noise has only grown louder around a home crowd that expected more than it has gotten so far. Coming off a Week 2 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken publicly praised Watsons effort, a small but notable show of support in a tense atmosphere.
Now Watson is hoping the mood inside Browns Stadium shifts when Carolina arrives. For the Panthers, it adds another wrinkle to a road game that was already going to draw attention, because the response to Watson could shape the temperature of the afternoon before the Panthers even settle in. Cleveland has been restless, and the next chapter of that frustration is set to unfold with Carolina in town. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Defense Faces A New Concern After Breakthrough Win
The Panthers defense had its best showing of the young season in a win over Atlanta, allowing just three points and giving the unit a much-needed jolt of confidence. But the first practice of the week brought a familiar reminder that defensive success can come with a cost, as several key players were out of the session because of injuries.
Devin Lloyd was sidelined with a calf issue, while Jaelan Phillips, Nick Scott and Claudin Cherelus also sat out with back, ribs and shoulder injuries, respectively. Patrick Jones II and Bobby Brown III were back as full participants, which offered at least some good news, but Carolina will be watching closely to see how healthy its front and secondary look as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Face One Tough Trade Call With Crowded Tight End Room
The Panthers have built up an unusually crowded tight end room, and that kind of depth can turn into a decision point fast. Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, Darren Waller and Ja'Tavion Sanders are all in the mix, but Sanders has often been a healthy scratch, which says plenty about how little room there is for everyone to get on the field. For a team trying to balance roster value with on-field usage, it is the sort of surplus that can invite phone calls from other teams.
Los Angeles is one of the clubs that could make that conversation more interesting. The Chargers have been hit by injuries to key tight ends David Njoku and Charlie Kolar, and their lack of reliable blocking options at the position makes the need even more obvious. That has led to speculation that Carolina could listen on Mitchell Evans, or even explore a package deal involving Kimani Vidal, but the kind of move that fits both teams still depends on how aggressively the Chargers want to solve their tight end problem. [Read more 🡒]