Story by
ESPN names 3 potential targets for Panthers ahead of trade deadline
- Story by
- ESPN names 3 potential targets for Panthers ahead of trade deadline
Although the Carolina Panthers could certainly use a trade or two to help level out their injury-plagued roster, they may not have the capacity to do so. At the moment, the reigning NFC South champs—according to Over The Cap—have the league's second-lowest amount of salary cap room at $533,061.
But if they can ultimately make a move, who should it be for?
Advertisement
With the trade deadline just a few days away, ESPN's Mike Kaye highlighted three names for the Panthers. Kaye starts with Las Vegas Raiders interior offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson, who could provide some much-needed depth to a struggling trench. He also suggests Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal, a possible change-of-pace option for Carolina's workhorse Chuba Hubbard.
And sandwiched in between Powers-Johnson and Vidal is a serving of defense in New York Jets pass rusher Will McDonald IV. Kaye writes:
The previous regime -- which Morgan was a part of -- was quite fond of McDonald as a prospect in 2023, multiple sources with knowledge of that year's Panthers draft plans told ESPN. Before the Jets selected McDonald with the No. 15 overall pick, the then-Panthers' brass had "heavily discussed" him as a potential trade-up target later in the draft, one of the sources said. Four years into his New York tenure, McDonald has been an effective situational pass rusher and not much more. Still, the Panthers could use some help in that regard with a 29th-ranked (4.56%) sack rate.
As is the case with the offensive line and the running back room, the Panthers have run low on options off the edge. They lost Nic Scourton for the season on the very first day of training camp due to a torn ACL and Jaelan Phillips seems to be in line to miss his third straight game with a nagging hamstring injury.
Perhaps their change at defensive coordinator will inspire more pressure from the unit. But as they currently stand, there simply isn't enough firepower—and McDonald might be able to provide it.
Advertisement
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: ESPN names 3 potential targets for Panthers ahead of trade deadline
