EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Carolina Panthers remain an intriguing team just a few days before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.Even at 3-4, the Panthers will be in the mix for a second consecutive NFC South division title, regardless of the results of Week 9's home game against the Denver Broncos (6-2) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS). That's life in the NFC South, where no team is above .500, and the Panthers, despite their up-and-down start to the season, remain at the top entering the midway point of the campaign.A plausible case can be made for the Panthers to add reinforcements at the deadline. There's also a reasonable case to trade away an expensive and/or underperforming player, especially if a contender offers a quality draft pick in return. General manager Dan Morgan could also, as he did last year, simply stay put with his roster and hope history repeats itself with the Panthers on top of a forgettable divisional scrum in January.The Panthers have limited salary cap space ($684,323, as of Wednesday, according to the NFLPA salary cap report). But they have the flexibility -- like all NFL teams -- to maneuver their cap situation with contract restructures that would open up space while pushing current cap charges into the future. Still, it's more likely the Panthers look for a bargain (particularly players on rookie deals) than a big name on the trade market.Here's a look at three players who could make sense to add before the deadline and two internal players who might garner trade interest with an advantageous exit:Three players the Panthers could add:Jackson Powers-Johnson, G/C, Las Vegas RaidersAge: 23 | Stats: Seven games (four starts) in 2026; 30 games (25 starts) in three seasons.Why Powers-Johnson makes sense for Panthers: Powers-Johnson, a 2024 second-round pick, probably needs a change of scenery after being benched in Las Vegas. He has guard/center versatility, and while the Panthers just activated Brady Christensen's 21-day practice window on injured reserve, Powers-Johnson is cost-effectively signed through 2027 ($1.6 million base salary in 2026 and just under $2 million next year). The former Oregon standout doesn't have to start immediately to be valuable, but he'd be a clear upgrade as the swing interior backup if Christensen or Sam Hecht gets the call to replace center Luke Fortner.Why Panthers would pass on Powers-Johnson: The O-lineman hasn't played particularly well under new Raiders coach Klint Kubiak. He is probably a better fit for center, but with Tyler Linderbaum on the roster, he wasn't going to get much of a chance. Powers-Johnson is a better pass blocker than run blocker, and so there might be similar issues with him in Carolina as there have been with Fortner in Brad Idzik's offense. Given their immediate need on the line, the Panthers might not want to give up value for a player who is still finding his place in the NFL.Will McDonald IV, DE, New York JetsAge: 27 | Stats: 14 tackles and three sacks in eight games (two starts); 86 tackles and 24.5 sacks in 55 games (31 starts) in four seasons.Why McDonald makes sense for the Panthers: 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.Why Panthers would pass on McDonald: The Panthers have been terrible against the run for years, and that aspect of their defense is a priority for coach Dave Canales and company down the final stretch of 10 games. McDonald won't offer a whole lot in that regard, and it could be argued he is somewhat redundant with Princely Umanmielen already on the roster. McDonald, while he would come cheap this year ($1.66 million base salary), is set to play on a guaranteed $13.7 million fifth-year option in 2027. And because of McDonald's cost-effectiveness, as well as his pass-rushing success, the Jets aren't likely to part ways with him without a substantial return.Kimani Vidal, RB, Los Angeles ChargersAge: 25 | Stats: 29 carries for 132 yards (4.6 YPC) and a touchdown and nine catches for 50 yards and a touchdown in seven games (one start) in 2026; 227 carries for 930 yards (4.1 YPC) and four touchdowns and 30 catches for 248 yards and three touchdowns in 30 games (11 starts) in three seasons.Why Vidal makes sense for the Panthers: Chuba Hubbard has taken on a ton of work in the first seven games and already has more rushing yards (540) and total touchdowns (7) than he did in 15 appearances in 2025. The Panthers have playoff aspirations but Jonathon Brooks and Trevor Etienne have yet to prove they can be reliable cogs. Vidal has experience as a starter and a rotational player -- who can be effective as a runner and receiver -- and he would be coming from a Mike McDaniel offense that has influenced Idzik's playcalling.Why Panthers would pass on Vidal: A late-round pick swap for a running back on an expiring contract might not interest Morgan, who has invested notable draft capital in Brooks and Etienne. The Panthers plan to have Brooks back in the lineup (he's on IR for a core muscle/groin injury) eventually, and after dedicating a lot of development time to him and Etienne, the Panthers will probably want to see that through this season. Carolina might just want to be patient in the backfield despite the optics of an underwhelming rotation (with a 22nd-ranked rushing attack).Two players the Panthers could trade away:Robert Hunt, RG, PanthersAge: 30 | Stats: Seven games (seven starts) in 2026; 86 games (80 starts) in seven seasons. Voted to Pro Bowl in 2024.Why trading Hunt makes sense for the Panthers: Hunt has struggled this season between Fortner and rookie right tackle Monroe Freeling. With Christensen on the mend, perhaps the Panthers could make Hunt available for a notable return.Christensen had the best stretch of his career at right guard, while filling in for Hunt, in the middle of last season, and with the interior line trade market fielding high demands -- Cam Jurgens and Quenton Nelson both warranted historic hauls in midseason swaps -- it might make sense to at least consider moving on from the 2024 Pro Bowl lineman. Trading Hunt would open up $19 million in cap space next year, per Over The Cap.Why Panthers would pass on Hunt trade: The Panthers' offensive line depth is a mess right now. The starting lineup has had its lumps, so it's fair to wonder what Hunt would bring in return, especially as the front office isn't likely to just give him away. While opening up cap space and getting something for Hunt sounds appealing on paper, a team with playoff aspirations probably shouldn't risk moving on from a proven talent in the middle of a postseason push.Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, PanthersAge: 23 | Stats: Healthy inactive for all seven games this season; 62 catches for 532 yards yards and two touchdowns in 29 games (13 starts) in his career.Why trading Sanders makes sense for the Panthers: The tight end hasn't played all season. Earlier this week, ESPN NFL analyst Benjamin Solak mused about Sanders being sent to the Chicago Bears for a sixth-round pick. Given Sanders' lack of a role, a deal like that might appeal to the Panthers, who have effectively used a rotation of Tommy Tremble, Darren Waller and Mitchell Evans at the position, plus Feleipe Franks on special teams. Sanders, a 2024 fourth-round pick, clearly needs a change of scenery, and his draft pedigree and long-term cost effectiveness (signed on a rookie deal through 2027) could warrant interest from a contender.Why Panthers would pass on Sanders trade: The Panthers play 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TEs, 2 WRs) on 28.8% of their offensive snaps, which ranks sixth in the NFL. They play in 13 personnel (1 RB, 3 TEs, 1 WR) on 10.5% of their offensive plays, good for 11th in the league. More than a third of their looks on offense come with multiple tight end sets, so if someone such as Waller, 34, were to go down, the Panthers would need a competent pass catcher to replace him. And as mentioned earlier, Sanders is cheap, so he's not really hurting the Panthers' cap situation.
