As the NFL trade deadline gets closer, the Panthers need to be making calls, even if most of the names on the board never actually make it to Charlotte. The point is simple: they have to find out what it would cost, and a few of these targets are too useful to ignore.
Josh Downs is one of the clearest examples. Earlier, the case was made that he’s a good idea even though he’s not a cornerback or an offensive lineman, and his desire to be traded gives Carolina some leverage. With what’s going on in Indianapolis, the Panthers can’t afford to just shrug and move on.
Up front on defense, the need is even more obvious. Carolina has been hurt without Nic Scourton because he can rush the passer and set the edge against the run, and Josh Sweat brings that same kind of value. His 64.7 run defense grade as an edge rusher makes him worth a look, even if he’s going to draw plenty of attention elsewhere.
The Panthers also need more help in the middle of the defensive line, where stopping the run has become a major issue. That’s why Grover Stewart belongs on the list. With the firesale going on in Indianapolis, it makes sense to at least ask.
Offensive line help has to be part of the conversation, too. Robert Hunt has been abysmal, so calling about New Orleans guard Cesar Ruiz is a reasonable move, even if the Saints probably wouldn’t be eager to help a division rival with only a small gap between the teams in the standings.
Cornerback remains a huge need now and will stay that way going forward. Mike Jackson’s contract is up, and there are real questions about whether Jaycee Horn and Will Lee can stay healthy for 17 games. Sauce Gardner has his own injury history, but the Panthers would probably like their odds of getting two full seasons out of the three of them.
The Eagles have already dealt one offensive lineman and watched another retire, which makes Landon Dickerson an interesting name to monitor. He can play guard and center, and those are two spots Carolina could use an upgrade at.
There’s also a fit with Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen because of connections to the Panthers’ coaching staff. Gardner would be the bigger long-term swing, but Woolen would be cheaper and much easier to pull off right now.
Jackson is another logical cornerback target because he already knows this staff. He worked under new CB coach DeAngelo Hall in 2023, and the Chargers should be open to moving whoever they can.
And if the Panthers want another defensive line option, Zach Sieler makes sense as well. The run defense has been shockingly bad this season, and that’s with Carolina leaning on fourth- and fifth-string cornerbacks. If cornerback is the top priority, defensive line has to be right there with it.
In Other News...
Panthers Finally Have Injury Hope At The Worst Time To Need It
The Panthers are getting a little healthier at a time when they can least afford to keep patching things together. Xavier Legette, Jonathon Brooks and Brady Christensen have all had their 21-day return windows opened, and several other injured players, including Mike Jackson, Jaelan Phillips and Jaycee Horn, have been taking part in limited practice work as Carolina tries to stabilize a roster that has been battered for much of the season.
Bryce Youngs knee issue has also eased enough that Dave Canales said the quarterback is now ready to rock, with his mobility looking better as the week has gone on. For a team that has spent so much of the year managing absences, simply getting bodies back on the field is meaningful, but the real question is whether Carolina can turn that progress into something more before the schedule tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Trade Talk Just Raised An Uncomfortable Deadline Question
A speculative trade idea making the rounds has put JaTavion Sanders in an awkward spot as the deadline approaches. ESPN floated a scenario in which the Panthers could send the tight end to the Bears for a sixth-round pick, a deal built around Carolinas crowded depth chart and Sanders limited role this season.
Sanders has been inactive for much of the year and is sitting behind other Panthers tight ends, which makes him an obvious name to watch if Carolina decides to shuffle the bottom of the roster. Chicagos need is easy to understand after losing a tight end for the season, and that kind of injury often turns a fringe player into a possible depth add, even if nothing is close to done yet. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Trade Idea Raises Bigger Question About Their Defensive Priorities
The Panthers secondary has been a work in progress, and ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz recently floated a safety-for-safety idea that would send Lathan Ransom to the Jets for Andre Cisco. It is the kind of proposal that makes sense on paper only if Carolina is looking to shuffle pieces rather than solve its biggest defensive issues, because the back end has been under the microscope while the rest of the defensive backfield still needs attention.
What makes the suggestion more interesting is what it says about the Panthers priorities. Safety is part of the conversation, but cornerback remains the more pressing need, and that is the lens through which any move like this would have to be judged. For now, it is only an idea, not an official trade, but it does underline how much work Carolina still has to do in the secondary. [Read more 🡒]