The Carolina Panthers are sitting at 1-1, and the early shape of their season is pretty clear: the offense has enough juice to make this interesting, while the defense still has some real cracks to patch.
That’s what makes a potential Jeffery Simmons swing so compelling. The Panthers have already shown they can survive some uneven spots on the roster.
The linebacker group has held up well with Devin Lloyd and the late addition of Bobby Okereke. The secondary, after a rough preseason, has settled in.
The pass rush has been solid, and Pat Jones’ return should only help. Even at running back, Chuba Hubbard’s strong start has made the group look fine despite Jonathon Brooks’ injury.
The pass-catchers, tight ends included, have also looked pretty good.
But the interior of the defensive line has been a different story entirely.
The Panthers have allowed a positive gain of at least one yard on 96% of rushing attempts this season, and that kind of number points straight at a front that isn’t creating enough push or finishing enough tackles. If this start is going to turn into a second straight playoff trip, that has to change.
Simmons would address the problem in a big way. He’s under contract through 2030, and Carolina has already committed to beefing up the defense. He’d give them a true answer to the biggest weakness on the roster.
Of course, this kind of move would not come cheap. The cost would be enormous, and it’s fair to question whether it’s worth paying that price right now. But if the Panthers are serious about fixing the middle of the defense, this is the kind of trade that would do it.
To make the money work, Carolina would likely have to send out Robert Hunt. That would create a new issue on the offensive line, though Hunt hasn’t been especially effective so far this season, and Brady Christensen could step in as a workable stopgap at guard until next year.
A Simmons-Derrick Brown pairing would give the Panthers a nasty look up front, with Bobby Brown III able to line up as the nose tackle between them. Lee Hunter could rotate in with Cam Jackson, and Tershawn Wharton, once he returns, would also fit into the mix as a rotational piece to keep everyone fresh.
The draft-pick cost is the other big hurdle. It would probably take two first-rounders and more, which would leave Carolina thinner in the years ahead. Even so, Simmons is one of the best defensive players in football, and the payoff would be obvious.
One proposed framework would send Robert Hunt, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 third-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick to the Tennessee Titans. For a Titans team that is going nowhere right now, that kind of package could make sense. They need assets, and Hunt could help them try to turn Cam Ward around the way he and Damien Lewis did for Bryce Young.
The Panthers already started acting like a team ready to push chips in by spending big on Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips. After an eight-win season a year ago, they’ve clearly chosen aggression. Going after Simmons would be the next loudest version of that plan.
In Other News...
Bryce Young Faces A Week 3 Test That Could Shift Carolinas Plan
Bryce Young has opened the 2026 season with a strong early run, and the Panthers have reason to feel encouraged about where the offense is headed. Much of that success has come against zone looks, where Young has been comfortable finding rhythm and making the right decisions, but the next matchup should reveal a lot more about how real this start is. Cleveland tends to lean on man coverage, which changes the challenge considerably and forces an offense to win more individual matchups.
The Browns still bring a tough secondary, with Denzel Ward anchoring the back end, even if their pass rush loses some of its sting without Myles Garrett. Carolina may also look for more balance on the ground, especially with Chuba Hubbard making the most of limited work so far. Cleveland's run defense has been vulnerable, and if the Panthers can build around that edge, this week could offer a clearer snapshot of how far Young and the offense have come. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Has Panthers Fans Wondering If This Turnaround Is Real
The Panthers have given their fan base enough reason to squint at the early-season picture, because the first two games have looked like two different teams. Bryce Young has helped drive a cleaner, more coherent offense, and the changes around him have been noticeable enough to make Carolina feel at least a little more functional on that side of the ball. There have also been encouraging signs from key contributors and a sense that the staff has found a better rhythm, even if it is still far too early to pretend the rough edges are gone.
Cleveland is the next test, and it comes with the usual mix of caution and curiosity that follows any promising start in Carolina. The defense still has questions, the running back usage remains unsettled, and there are injury concerns hanging over the build-up to the game. For now, the Panthers have earned the right to be taken seriously, but they have not yet done enough to make anyone fully certain this turnaround is built to last. [Read more 🡒]