The Carolina Panthers are at least willing to look around as the trade deadline approaches, even if the cap math may keep them from making a splash.
Head coach Dave Canales said Tuesday after practice that the team is weighing its options with the deadline now a week away, especially with injuries piling up across the roster.
“Yeah, that’s all stuff we have to consider,” Canales replied. “It’s the big picture though, right?
This is a really good question for Brandt [Tilis] and for Dan [Morgan] to be able to kinda see-what can we do? And that kinda dictates a lot, in terms of how active you can be at the trade deadline.
“But we’re certainly open to those options. And all those conversations, I don’t field any of those until they became a little more substantial, and then that’s when I get involved in the process.”
Cornerback looks like the clearest spot to monitor. Carolina has been hit hard there, with starters Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, plus backup Akayleb Evans, all dealing with injuries. That shortage forced practice squad member Marco Wilson into a starting role last Thursday.
Still, interest and ability are two different things. The Panthers have just $533,061 in salary cap room, which is the second-lowest figure in the NFL. Unless the front office can create more space by moving money around in existing contracts, the team won’t have much room to chase a meaningful upgrade at any position.
Canales said that reality is part of the equation.
“Yeah, those are all the things to consider as far as what can be done,” he later added. “So, again, until something gets real-my job is to evaluate the people that they put in front of me.”
The trade deadline is set for 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
In Other News...
Panthers Trade Buzz Centers On Bryce Youngs Urgent Need
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For a team trying to give Young a better chance to settle in and keep the offense moving, the fit is easy to see on paper. Downs is the kind of addition that would make sense for a roster looking for help now and a little more stability in the passing game, but the report is still speculative, and there is no confirmation the Panthers are actually moving on it. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Face A Tough Jackson Powers-Johnson Gamble Up Front
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Of course, the appeal comes with a catch. Powers-Johnson recently lost his starting job in Las Vegas, so any trade talk would have to start with figuring out why that happened before Carolina even considers sending over a late draft pick. It is the sort of gamble teams make when they believe a change of scenery could unlock value, but for the Panthers it would still require a careful read on whether the upside is real or just a tempting roster-flier. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Have A Real Trade Answer For Their Biggest Defensive Problem
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Jaelan Sieler has emerged as a name worth watching if Carolina decides it needs help up front. The Dolphins defensive end would fit the kind of move the Panthers need most right now, adding another body with the potential to steady the front and take some pressure off a defense that has been stretched thin. Whether Carolina actually follows through is the question hanging over the next few days. [Read more 🡒]