The Carolina Panthers are being mentioned as a possible landing spot for a quarterback, and the name at the center of it is Kirk Cousins.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen listed Carolina as one of three top fits for the Las Vegas QB, with the trade deadline chatter extending beyond the Panthers’ obvious needs on defense. Fowler noted that Cousins “played well enough through seven games that he has trade value,” and that his reworked deal now includes “a $1.3 million base salary.” He also pointed out that Las Vegas may not be eager to get aggressive at the deadline, even with Aidan O'Connell in the mix as a possible backup option if the Raiders choose to start rookie Fernando Mendoza.
For Carolina, the appeal is straightforward enough: Cousins would look like a stronger insurance policy behind Bryce Young than Kenny Pickett.
The veteran has put together a productive season in his 15th NFL campaign, throwing for 1,877 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions in seven games with the Raiders. He’s on a one-year, $11 million contract, which makes him a legitimate trade possibility if the Raiders decide to move him.
Still, there’s a catch. Bringing in Cousins would mean the Panthers would have to juggle the cap, and that might not be worth the hassle for a backup quarterback. Pickett is already on a one-year deal worth $4 million guaranteed, so Carolina would be spending real money to reshape the depth chart behind Young.
That’s why the more pressing spending priority still appears to be defense. The Panthers have been linked by Fowler and Bowen to Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen and Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Donte Jackson, reinforcing the idea that their cap space may be better used on the defensive side of the ball than on another quarterback.
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Panthers Suddenly Have A Trade Opportunity They Can't Ignore
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For Carolina, that matters because a team still looking to strengthen its roster cannot afford to ignore a chance to shop where the market suddenly gets a little softer. If Indianapolis is genuinely willing to listen, the Panthers could have a path to players who might fit immediate needs and cost less than they would have just a week ago. The challenge now is figuring out how far the Colts are prepared to go. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Now Wait On A Packers Weapon Who Could Change Thursday Night
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Green Bay's injury report also includes defensive tackles Devonte Wyatt and Anthony Campbell, along with edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr., but Golden is the name that changes the conversation most for Carolina. If he is active, the Panthers will have to plan for a different version of the Packers' passing game than the one they might have expected earlier in the week, and on a short week there is not much time to adjust once the final word comes in. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Have Found An O-Line Trade Fit Worth Debating
The Panthers are still poking around for help up front, and a new name worth watching has surfaced in Las Vegas. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler suggested interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson could be had for a Day 3 pick, which immediately makes him the kind of affordable target teams like Carolina have to at least consider as they keep sorting through their offensive line options.
Powers-Johnsons appeal is pretty straightforward for the Panthers: he has experience at right guard and center, and he profiles as either a plug-in starter or a useful depth piece depending on how the rest of the board breaks. Carolinas own roster needs make that kind of flexibility attractive, especially with other teams making moves and the market for interior linemen never really getting simple this time of year. [Read more 🡒]