The Panthers have been connected to making an addition in advance of the trade deadline (specifically at the wide receiver position), but the league’s only winless team should be expected to be sellers on the whole. A number of players could soon find themselves out of Carolina as a result. 
Two-time Pro Bow edge rusher Brian Burns would of course be the top prize for an acquiring team in any Panthers-related swap, but having an extension worked out would be necessary to justify the trade price required on that front. The Panthers turned down a haul for Burns including two first-round picks from the Rams last season, so another substantial proposal would no doubt be required for serious trade talks to take place. Extension negotiations for the former first-rounder — who is playing on the fifth-year option in 2023 and is thus due for free agency or a franchise tag in March — are on hold.
A trio of other Panthers are available to be had in the near future, however, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Hybrid safety/linebacker Jeremy Chinn, along with wideout Terrace Marshall and cornerback Donte Jackson find themselves on the trade block. Any member of that trio would require far less to acquire than Burns, and they would arrive with varying degrees of expectations on a new team.
Chinn is in the final year of his rookie contract, and he would make for a logical rental candidate on a team with the right scheme to utilize his skillset. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year runner up eclipsed 100 tackles in each of his first two seasons, and he remained a full-time starter last year (one in which he missed signficant time due to a hamstring injury). Chinn was one of a select few players essentially deemed off-limits ahead of the 2022 deadline, but his playing time has dropped considerably this year in new DC Ejiro Evero‘s 3-4 scheme. A fresh start may be beneficial to team and player.
Marshall, like Jackson, is on the books through 2024. The former had high expectations as a second-round pick, but he has yet to lock down a full-time starting workload to date. The LSU alum seemed to be assured of a role ahead of the campaign by new head coach Frank Reich, but he did not see the field in Week 5 despite dressing. Marshall has totaled 16 catches for 114 scoreless yards while seeing a 64% snap share. Of course, any WR addition on Carolina’s part would threaten to knock him further down the depth chart and make a move sending him elsewhere a logical one.
Unlike the other two, Jackson is not attached to a rookie contract and would require a larger financial investment from an acquiring team. The 27-year-old would be due the balance of his $10.62MM in compensation this year if he were dealt, and his new club would be on the hook for that amount next year as well. Jackson’s 2024 cap hit, though, is set at $15.82MM, something which would take him off certain teams’ radars. Carolina would incur a dead cap charge of $5.2MM this season and next by trading the former second-rounder; only 2024 would yield a net gain in cap space.
Jackson has started all but four of his 68 games, each of which have been spent with the Panthers. He has recorded between two and four interceptions each season, though injuries have ended his last two campaigns. An Achilles tear limited him to nine contests in 2022, but Jackson has returned to full health and logged a starting workload in his four games played this year.
The Panthers are taking a cautious approach with respect to their new-look coaching staff, but changes could be coming on the field if calls on Chinn, Marshall and/or Jackson produce a trade agreement. Other players could be on the move as well, of course, but for now the future of that trio will be worth watching.
All of them can play, to various degrees. Marshall is a depth chart filling piece, Jackson can be a decent starter, and Chinn is massively talented player who does not fit the new system.
You’d think that Evero would be able to find a use for a speedy man corner like Jackson, who had a great 2021 (when he only allowed 120 receiving yards in man coverage). He’s played more zone than that, but that’s what Carolina used to run more of. Evero’s defense is much different, if he continues the old Fangio styled Denver defense that made his name.
Wanting to sell here indicates to me that Carolina is going to try to transition even harder to a more 3-4 styled base look than the 4-3 base they’ve traditionally run (Snow’s multiple looks in the last regime partially withstanding). If that’s the case, I’d expect to see more moves before the start of next year.
Chinn, though, feels like a disappointment to have to trade. Even if he doesn’t “fit” the system, he is an incredibly athletic playmaker who should have been one of the young building blocks on defense. Carolina may not be using him right or are choosing the scheme over the player, but he’s the type of guy who can go for a low return and excel somewhere else. It is a contract year for him, but still. It’d be unfortunate for Carolina to unload him for a Day Three pick and see him make an impact on another team. I wonder about the value of a compensatory pick in this scenario as well, should a good trade not offer itself up.
Home is where you make it.
True, very true.
Don’t know what that makes a new coach, though-live in landlord? I dunno.
chinn is an awesome young saftey idk why the panthers would want to trade him
Chinn to Seattle so they can find a way to move on from Adams. Not saying it works. Seems worth the flier
Carolina was vocal they would sign Burns all offseason. Same for the Vikings w/ Jefferson. Neither were signed. Now if home grown stud talents can’t get extensions, why would any good to great FA’s think joining those teams would be a good idea? When teams won’t back their public words, and you have other choices, go elsewhere.
Denver should had drafted Chinn instead of KJ Hamler. Hell his uncle is a Bronco hall of famer.
Broncos should have drafted Anybody instead of K.J. Hamler. You don’t throw away 2nd round picks on gadget players. That pick had disaster written all over it from the moment they announced it.
Giants take a shot at Marshall?
Aly Roseman Eagles have been linked to Buddha Baker of the Cardinals for some time now. if they can’t get something worked out with the Cardinals maybe they should turn their attention to Jeremy chin for the Panthers. both the Cardinals and the Panthers are coached buy a former Eagle coordinators. Jonathan Guyton in Arizona and Frank reich in Carolina
The Eagles should be in on Chinn regardless of the Cardinals interest in trading Buddha Baker. A Buddha Baker trade makes no sense, due to the salary cap.