The Carolina Panthers should be much better than most people expect in the 2024 season. However, Carolina fans don’t need to be reminded of how quickly a season can go wrong. All sorts of things could derail this team, from injuries to a lack of progress from Bryce Young to a new head coach who may be out of his depth.
If things do indeed go poorly in the first half of the season, it’s not hard to imagine the Panthers trading players when the NFL transfer deadline rolls around. This season, that’s Nov. 5 after Week 9. Here are a few players we can imagine Carolina general manager Dan Morgan in a selling mood.
Thielen still has some talent, but at 34, his chances of going deep in the playoffs are getting slim. A team in need of a veteran wide receiver midseason might be willing to part with a Day 3 pick to get Thielen, whose contract is somewhat reasonable. He becomes especially expendable if the Panthers like what they see from rookie Xaver Legette in the first half of the season.
Thompson’s career with Carolina is coming to an end anyway, and the rise of rookie Trevin Wallace means it’s only a matter of time before he steps into the starting defensive lineup. Dealing Thompson to another team would save the Panthers over $5 million in salary cap space over the next two years and free up a spot in the lineup for Wallace.
No one on this roster’s days are clearly numbered other than the guy at the top of the running back list. Hubbard is in the final year of his rookie contract and has just $3.29 million in salary cap space for Carolina in 2024. That makes him very tradeable, as does the inevitable rise of rookie Jonathon Brooks, who was considered the most promising running back in the class of 2024. Getting something for Hubbard would be a bonus considering he’s likely not around next year anyway.
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