The Panthers have started the Bryce Young era 0-4, though Young was unable to play in last week’s loss to the Seahawks due to an ankle injury. In spite of the disappointing start, Carolina is not necessarily going to be a seller at the October 31 trade deadline and is actually looking to acquire another wide receiver, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.
Of course, the Panthers traded former WR1 D.J. Moore to the Bears in order to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft and select Young, and the team added veteran wideouts Adam Thielen and DJ Chark, along with tight end Hayden Hurst, to aid in the development of its rookie passer. Carolina also selected Jonathan Mingo in the second round of the 2023 draft.
Thielen, Chark, Mingo, and 2021 second-rounder Terrace Marshall have seen plenty of playing time, but only Thielen and Chark have topped 100 receiving yards through the first three games of the season. Per Rapoport, the Panthers believe that another wideout will help to unlock Young’s potential, and GM Scott Fitterer has called several teams that may be looking to move a receiver.
Rapoport does not identify the teams that Fitterer has called or the players that he might be targeting. A report from this morning indicated that the Bears are looking to trade WR Chase Claypool, but Claypool is in a contract year, and Rapoport suggested that the Panthers could be looking for a player with more club control (he did not explicitly say so, but he did write that Carolina is seeking to solidify its roster for 2023 “and beyond.”) Given Claypool’s difficulties in Chicago and the fact that his effort has been questioned by his coaching staff and his teammates, he may not be the most logical target.
In addition to another receiver, the Panthers could also be in the market for a safety, according to Rapoport. Starting safety Xavier Woods is dealing with a hamstring injury, and Carolina may want additional depth in the defensive backfield.
bryce young for claypool. Final offer.
C’mon, the Bears would throw in Justin Fields as well.
WR is the least of Carolina’s problems
Maybe the league will stop taking 5’9” QBs #1 overall now?
The Panthers said they wanted a Wide Reciever. So that leaves out Claypool right off.
Make calls for Van Jefferson, tee Higgins, Darius Slayton and/or Jerry Jeudy
Higgins could be interesting. Unlikely, but interesting. The only way that he would even be available is if Cincy still has trouble negotiating his new deal. I don’t see it happening right now, but given their struggles and his unsuccessful negotiations with the team, I find the prospect much more plausible than i would have before.
Here’s the question, though. What does Carolina have to offer? Like the Jets, they gave up a lot this offseason for a QB and don’t have much in the way of assets. They may, also like the Jets, have to settle for whatever they can get for cheap. I don’t think that Young is secure enough to allow Carolina to trade away the newly signed Dalton for picks to use as collateral. Burns looks to be staying. Brown is, as well. Horn’s injury again means that the Panthers’ CB depth is important. Chinn isn’t going anywhere. I don’t know who or what they could move for a wideout.
That’s why I threw in Slayton. Get him for a couple late rounders. Or move off of Horn or a D Lineman. Bryce needs protection and weapons. Otherwise they’re season smelling like 2–15
I see your point. I like Slayton, but I’m not sure that he’s much better than what they have. I agree with you though that he profiles as a possible move that is very attainable for a team looking for the most quality for a cheap price. Thing is, it seems that Carolina is intentionally protecting Young with its playcalling. It is quite conservative (which is not always a bad thing on its own, but does limit Young’s passing options). Maybe it’s necessary, I don’t know where Young stands in how he can execute the playbook, but I think a major part of Carolina’s lack of wideout production is how they’ve limited the playcalling.
Of course, to your point, maybe it’s the receivers that they don’t trust. Weapons are never a bad thing to have, in any case, so I don’t necessarily think that it’d be bad to pick up someone like Slayton. Higgins would be a clear upgrade and a long term player, if he ends up becoming available.
It’s an underwhelming offense so far. Unless they embrace the rebuild and count this season as live reps for young.
Agreed. Seems that’s what’s happening, intentionally or not.
Oh the irony.
Guy in the photo should be looking to acquire a chin.
He looks like a Terry Gilliam creation from Monty Python.
The Cardinals are planning to tank so they would probably give up Marquise Brown for some draft capital.
They’re doing a good job without having to create another hole in their WR room.
Let them have their dream of Murray, Harrison, Hollywood, Rondale & McBride
Any receiver not named Moore on the Bears roster, because Fields can’t find them anyway.
Call the Falcons… they don’t use theirs!