The Carolina Panthers are being mentioned as a possible landing spot for Marquez Valdes-Scantling, a veteran wide receiver with two Super Bowl rings who could give Bryce Young another option on the outside.
Carolina heads into the 2026 NFL season with plenty of attention on what comes next. The Panthers made the playoffs last year, but only after getting in via a tiebreaker and taking the NFC South. That leaves this season with a different kind of pressure: not just reaching the postseason, but showing they can actually build on it.
A big part of that conversation circles back to Young. The former No. 1 overall pick has already had his share of highs and lows, and the Panthers have kept him in place as the starter. Still, the message is clear enough - if he doesn’t take another step forward this year, change could be on the table.
One way to help him is by adding more firepower around him, and that’s where Valdes-Scantling enters the picture. NFL analyst Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report identified the veteran as a possible fit for Carolina ahead of the season. Valdes-Scantling was released by the Dallas Cowboys during final roster cuts and is still available.
He spent last season with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers, finishing with 14 catches for 120 yards and one touchdown. That production won’t jump off the page, but the Panthers wouldn’t be looking at him as a centerpiece. He’d be a depth addition, someone who can bring experience and help support the passing game.
There’s also the championship angle. Valdes-Scantling has won two Super Bowl titles with the Kansas City Chiefs, and that kind of background can carry weight in a young locker room. He also has 432 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 12 postseason games, a résumé that shows he’s been part of some big moments.
For Carolina, the appeal is straightforward. Valdes-Scantling could stretch the field and force defenses to respect the deep ball, which would create more room for other receivers and give Young a little more breathing room in the offense.
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Wallace did not stay available for long, getting claimed off waivers by the Jets, which at least gave him another chance to keep his career moving. Morgan described the move as a difficult one and voiced support for Wallaces new opportunity, but the bigger takeaway for Carolina is harder to miss: this front office is clearly willing to move on from its own recent investments if it believes the roster can be made stronger elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]