The Colts’ decision to move Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks sent a loud message: this could get a lot messier before it gets better.
On Tuesday, Indianapolis dealt Nelson for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, ending a run that made him one of the defining players of the era in Indy. Over his time with the Colts, Nelson became a three-time first-team All-Pro, a three-time second-team All-Pro and an eight-time Pro Bowler.
And if that kind of move is on the table, then nothing really feels safe. League insider Tom Pelissero said that “ no one” is expected to be off-limits, which opens the door for teams to start sniffing around almost anybody on the roster.
For the Carolina Panthers, that creates a natural list of targets.
One name that makes immediate sense is wide receiver Josh Downs. Carolina’s top duo of Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker has already emerged as one of the league’s better pairings, but the depth behind them remains thin.
Xavier Legette, the 2024 first-round pick, has had trouble getting going, healthy or not, and the Panthers have been left trying to piece together production from John Metchie III and Brycen Tremayne. Downs would add something different to the mix.
The former third-round pick from North Carolina is separating well in 2026, and his average depth of target has climbed to a career high, giving him real value as a downfield weapon. He could also help on punt returns, which matters after David Moore’s muff on Sunday left that job unsettled.
If Carolina wants help where the damage has been most obvious, the defensive line is the place to look. The Panthers got run over by Tampa Bay in Week 7, as a one-dimensional offense piled up 260 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 46 carries. That kind of day puts a spotlight on the front seven fast, and it explains why Indianapolis tackles DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart belong on the radar.
Buckner, a two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, is 32 now and not at the peak of his game, but he would still give Carolina more than what it currently has next to Derrick Brown and Lee Hunter. Stewart brings a similar appeal. At 6-foot-4 and 314 pounds, he has the size to help firm up the run defense, and his 75.9 tackling grade from Pro Football Focus is on pace to be the second-best mark of his 10-year career.
There’s also a case for cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt. He may not be the flashiest name available, but the Panthers are already stretched thin with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson sidelined.
Until those two return, starting Akayleb Evans every week is a tough ask. Taylor-Britt has 40 games of starting experience, and that alone would give Carolina’s secondary a better shot to survive.
In Other News...
Panthers Now Wait On A Packers Weapon Who Could Change Thursday Night
The Panthers are spending the build-up to Thursday night keeping an eye on a Packers receiver whose status could tilt the matchup in a hurry. Matthew Golden opened the week as a non-participant in practice before working up to limited status, and Green Bay still listed him as questionable because of shoulder and foot issues. For Carolina, that matters because Golden is one of the more explosive pieces on the Packers' offense, and his availability can shape how aggressively the Panthers have to defend the perimeter.
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 🡒]
Panthers Linked To Veteran QB Insurance With Deadline Cost Looming
With the trade deadline approaching, the Panthers have been mentioned as a possible landing spot for a veteran quarterback, and Kirk Cousins is now part of that conversation. ESPN analysts Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen pegged Carolina as a potential destination, a fit that makes some sense for a team that has spent this season trying to stabilize things around Bryce Young while also keeping an eye on the bigger picture. A proven backup would give the Panthers more protection if the position becomes unsettled again, especially with the season still offering room for movement.
Carolinas interest, though, is hardly limited to the quarterback room. The Panthers have also been linked to cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Donte Jackson as they look for ways to strengthen a defense that could use more help. So while the quarterback chatter will draw the most attention, the front office seems to be weighing multiple paths as it looks for the right deadline addition without overpaying for the privilege. [Read more 🡒]