The 2024 season is certainly not going how the Carolina Panthers had hoped. The team is currently 1-5 after falling to their NFC South rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, 38-20. Second-year QB Bryce Young was benched after Week 2 for 37-year-old Andy Dalton.
The defense has been decimated with injuries and is currently the worst in the NFL. Rumors that defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero could be let go are swirling. The Panthers are projected to have only $41 million in cap space in 2025, which isn’t enough for a team needing a vast overhaul.
There are 24 players currently on Carolina’s roster who will become free agents in 2025. Combined with the fact that they field one of the oldest rosters in the league by average age, this means one thing: a flurry of trades is the next logical move.
With only one win under their belt through Week 6 and a gauntlet of tough opponents throughout this season, the chances of Carolina making their playoffs are virtually zero.
Since Ron Rivera and Cam Newton were let go after 2019, the team has avoided the “true rebuild” route, putting together patchwork rosters full of aging veterans and questionable draft choices. Years of mistakes haunt this team, and the only way out of this mess is to finally blow it all up, which generally is the correct way to do it.
Several potential trade candidates could fetch Carolina some much-needed draft capital. Here are a few names that could possibly end up in new uniforms before the November 5 trade deadline:
Carolina traded for the 28-year-old receiver in the offseason, sending the Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson in return. The trade has paid off for both sides, as Johnson has been the clear #1 receiver for the Panthers while Jackson has made significant plays in the secondary for Pittsburgh. Knowing this, trading him away may not make as much sense as re-signing him. After all, Carolina could end up being thin at WR after 2024.
However, other teams’ interest in Johnson has remained high for weeks. While contenders such as Kansas City have an obvious need at WR, others, such as Washington and the Los Angeles Chargers, could be lurking for a weapon for their young quarterbacks. There have also been rumors that Johnson isn’t looking to re-sign with Carolina.
All in all, the smartest thing the Panthers can do is make Johnson an offer ASAP. If they feel the two sides can’t reach an agreement before the deadline, the idea of trading him should certainly be entertained.
Hubbard has been the most consistent player for Carolina so far this season. The fourth-year running back has been near the top of the league in terms of rushing yards (485) and yards per carry (5.6) while carrying the load for this offense. Despite the struggles early in his career, Hubbard has developed into a tough downhill runner who rarely loses yardage.
That said, Carolina traded up in the second round of the 2024 draft to select Texas running back Jonathon Brooks. The rookie has not seen the field, but his recovery from a torn ACL last year is nearly complete. Head coach Dave Canales has been adamant that Brooks will be ready to go “soon.”
If the Panthers can see what Brooks brings before the deadline, they may consider trading Hubbard to an RB-needy team, such as the Dallas Cowboys.
Thielen is currently on injured reserve, but Carolina projects him to return by Week 8, which would be a little over a week before the trade deadline. When healthy, Thielen proves to be a solid underneath option that can play any down.
He’s slowed down significantly this year due to his age, but his impressive route-running ability allows him to get open anyway. He could be a target for a team needing a reliable vet at WR.
Sanders has had a rough few seasons since signing a four-year deal with Carolina prior to the 2023 season. His struggles eventually led to him being benched for the aforementioned Hubbard, and Sanders has yet to return to his true Philadelphia form.
Carolina could look to move on altogether from Sanders this offseason, as cutting him would save the team a significant amount of cap space. If Carolina re-signs Hubbard, expect Sanders to be moved, whether via a trade or release.
If there’s one thing for certain, it’s that nobody knows what Carolina is planning to do with Bryce Young. After the Panthers gave up so much to draft him last year, the former Heisman winner from Alabama struggled heavily, leading to his early benching after Week 2 this season.
This seemed to be the beginning of the end of the Young Era in Carolina. Theories and rumors of his future began swirling immediately, and conflicting reports on what that future would be only fueled the fire. Some reports stated that the benching was only temporary, a way to “stop the bleeding,” while others said Young would never suit up for Carolina again.
If owner David Tepper is willing to be patient with this current coaching staff, chances are he will allow Canales to select his own QB through the draft or free agency. Teams such as the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams have shaky QB situations shaping up for the immediate future, and may need to start looking for their franchise QB.
If a coaching staff out there believes they can save Young’s career, Carolina may reach out to them before the deadline just to get an idea of what sort of compensation they could get in a trade.
The proper way to rebuild a team is through the NFL Draft. The time has come for the Carolina Panthers to stop running from an actual rebuild and start trying to acquire as much draft capital as possible. We’ve seen multiple trades in the past few days in the NFL. Don’t be surprised if the Panthers are the next team in the headlines.
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!
