With the preseason winding down against the Houston Texans this week, the Panthers are still trying to clean up a glaring issue before September arrives: the secondary.
That part of Carolina’s defense has been exposed already in games against the Buffalo Bills and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The unit gave up chunk plays in the middle of the field, left receivers open in zone coverage, and had trouble finishing plays in space. It’s the kind of early warning sign that can’t be ignored, which is why a move for more young help at cornerback starts to make sense.
One name that has popped into the conversation is Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay listed his best landing spots for Porter on Tuesday after Jordan Shultz reported that he is on the trade block.
Porter is still on his rookie contract and has not been extended by Pittsburgh. The former second-round pick had a solid third season, finishing with 35 solo tackles and one interception. He also broke up 14 passes, which tied for 12th-most in the NFL.
There’s another wrinkle here, too: Porter is currently on the PUP list because of a back injury, and his availability in 2026 remains an open question. Even so, a move like this would be about more than just the short term for Carolina.
Mike Jackson is in the final year of his contract with the Panthers. He’ll be 30 heading into the 2027 season, and if he plays the way he did in 2025, he’ll be in line to chase a long-term deal.
That’s why Porter’s age matters. At 26, he would give Carolina a corner entering his prime and help the team get younger at a premium position.
The catch is the cost. Kay’s trade ideas for Porter did not include the Panthers as a destination, but Carolina does have the kind of draft capital other teams could use to get a deal done. The likely asking price would be two picks, a second-rounder and a fifth-rounder, with 2027 draft assets going back to Pittsburgh.
That’s a steep price, especially with the 2027 draft considered loaded. Still, cornerback is one of the most important spots on the field, and adding Porter would give the Panthers a younger option with real upside.
In Other News...
Bryce Young Faces Fresh Panthers Pressure After Ugly Day Vs Texans
A rough joint practice against Houston was always going to sharpen the focus on Bryce Young, and it did exactly that for the Panthers. Young took four sacks and threw two interceptions as Carolina worked through an ugly day against the Texans, a reminder that every snap this summer comes with a little more scrutiny for a quarterback trying to steady his place at the center of the offense.
Dave Canales moved quickly to frame the bigger picture, confirming Young remains Carolinas franchise quarterback while making clear the front office will handle any long-term contract talks. Young is already entering the 2026 season with a sizable deal on the books, and after last seasons uneven play, the pressure to show progress only grows when days like this pop up in practice. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Turn Final Preseason Tune-Up Into A Last-Chance Roster Fight
With one more joint practice and a preseason game against the Houston Texans still on the calendar, the Panthers are down to the kind of evaluation period that can swing a depth chart in a hurry. For players sitting on the bubble, this is the last real stage to make a case, and the coaching staff will be weighing more than flashes in camp as it sorts out the final 53-man roster.
That makes names like John Metchie, AJ Dillon, Aaron Hall, Darren Waller, Ja'Tavion Sanders, Chandler Zavala and Sam Hecht especially worth tracking over the next stretch. Some of those players appear to be in better shape than others, but for the ones needing a clean finish, the margin for error is gone and the Panthers still have a meaningful test left before decisions get locked in. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Just Put Carolina's Next Big Decision In Focus
Bryce Young has moved from question mark to centerpiece in Carolina, at least for now. Panthers head coach Dave Canales made it clear Young is the franchise quarterback and pointed to the progress he has made, a notable shift in tone for a player whose future once felt much less certain.
The contract side is still the part worth watching. Young is already secured through 2027 after the team exercised his fifth-year option, but the Panthers have not worked out a long-term extension yet, leaving Dan Morgan and Brandt Tilis to sort through a decision that could shape the roster well beyond this season. [Read more 🡒]