The Carolina Panthers’ defense has reached a point where help feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity. Injuries have wrecked the secondary, but the bigger problem has been the run defense, which has been getting gashed week after week.
Through seven games, Carolina sits among the NFL’s bottom three rushing defenses, giving up just over 140 rushing yards per game. At home, that number jumps to 198.3 rushing yards allowed, which is second-to-last in the league behind the Dallas Cowboys. The Panthers have also had two home games in which they surrendered more than 258 yards on the ground.
That kind of collapse is part of why defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero was fired. With the NFL trade deadline six days away on November 10th at 4 PM ET, Carolina has a chance to bring in reinforcements.
One name that surfaced in Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox trade candidate big board entering Week 8 was Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler. The fit is interesting because the Panthers’ need isn’t just in the secondary, even though that group is down to third-stringers with four corners injured. The defensive line has been relatively healthy, yet the run defense has still been a mess.
Sieler is an established veteran who recently signed a three-year extension worth up to $67 million. Miami, meanwhile, looks like a clear seller.
The Dolphins are not in realistic playoff position, and moving an instant contributor like Sieler would make sense for a team looking ahead. Knox also pointed out that Sieler could be a cap casualty, since releasing him or moving on from him would save Miami roughly $13.8 million next year.
From Carolina’s side, the asking price appears manageable. Knox projected Sieler’s trade value as a conditional fifth-round pick.
The Panthers do not currently own a fifth-rounder, but they do have two fourth-round picks, including one from the Vikings and their own. Either one would be a reasonable price for a team sitting at 1-7 and trying to stockpile draft capital.
Sieler has 2 sacks this season, but his value goes beyond the box score. He has been strong against the run, using solid technique and good hand placement once plays develop. For a Panthers defense that has already hit the emergency button once, this kind of move would make a lot of sense.
In Other News...
Panthers Could Finally Get Offensive Help Back When They Need It Most
The Panthers may be getting a little healthier up front at a time when they could use it. Head coach Dave Canales said the team plans to open the 21-day practice window for offensive lineman Brady Christensen, who has been on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, and Carolina will now take a closer look at what he can add once hes back on the field.
Christensen is healthy and ready to return, and the staff will evaluate his potential contribution from there. Canales also said running back Jonathon Brooks and wide receiver Xavier Legette are being considered for a return to practice, though both remain under evaluation, giving Carolina a few more moving parts to sort through as it tries to piece together help on offense. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Turn To A Familiar Name As Cornerback Problems Mount
With injuries thinning out the cornerback room, the Panthers have turned to a familiar face to help steady the position group. Former Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall is back in Carolina as the teams new cornerbacks coach, joining Dave Canales staff at a time when the defense needs both continuity and a quick response to a growing list of absences.
Hall is no stranger to the organization, having previously worked as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Panthers, and his return comes as the team gets ready for its next game against the Denver Broncos. With the staff already dealing with a recent shakeup and the secondary stretched by injuries, Carolina is leaning on a coach who knows the building and the demands of the job. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Secondary Shakeup Puts New Pressure On Carolinas Defensive Reset
The Panthers defensive reset took another sharp turn after the loss, with the team moving on from defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley. In the immediate aftermath, Carolina turned to defensive line coach Todd Wash as interim defensive coordinator and added a familiar face in DeAngelo Hall, who has been hired to coach cornerbacks and rejoin the staff in a role he knows well.
Halls return gives Carolina a little continuity in a room that suddenly looks very different, especially after he spent the past two seasons as the Panthers assistant defensive backs coach. The changes leave Wash with the task of steadying a defense in transition while Hall helps reshape the secondary, and it puts even more attention on how quickly the Panthers can settle their staff after a jolt that came right in the middle of the season. [Read more 🡒]