The Panthers haven’t shied away from trades over the last calendar year, being aggressive in order to reshape the roster. This has spanned from blockbuster deals to small additions of talent or future draft compensation. Some of the Panthers’ recent trades were shocking at the moment, but do they make sense in hindsight? With a clearer image of what the future in Carolina may look like, here is a review some of the front office’s recent deals.
Starting off with a smaller trade, Carolina brought in wide receiver Laviska Shenault on Aug. 29, 2022. In exchange, the Jaguars received a 2023 seventh-round pick and a 2024 sixth-round pick. The seventh-round pick ended up being the 226th pick in the draft, and the Jaguars selected Cooper Hodges, an offensive tackle out of Appalachian State.
This trade made sense for both sides at the time, and still does. The Jaguars were looking to move on from Shenault, and managed to receive two picks in the process. As for Carolina, while infrequent, Shenault has had some big moments in his short time with the Panthers.
With both picks they sent away being so late in the draft, Carolina would probably be able to move around and acquire anyone they wanted in that range anyways. Sending two low-value picks away for an electric receiver seems like a no-brainer. It could look even better if he shows improvement in a revamped Panthers’ receiver room.
Similar to the last trade, but with roles reversed, is the Chosen Anderson trade on Oct. 17, 2022. After a mid-game outburst, the Panthers were looking to move on from Anderson, who has since changed his first name from Robbie to Chosen. Following a verbal altercation with a Carolina coach, he was sent to the locker room and traded in the following week.
He was shipped to the Cardinals, who had just lost Hollywood Brown to a season-ending injury. In exchange, the Panthers received a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 seventh.
This one looks pretty favorable for Carolina, as they removed a problematic piece and managed to bring in draft picks. Not only that, but he produced minimally for Arizona before leaving for the Dolphins in free agency. Overall, a painless and solid move for the Panthers.
On Oct. 21, 2022, the Panthers broke the hearts of many fans by trading away superstar running back Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers. In exchange, Carolina brought in a haul of draft picks which included a 2023 second, third, and fourth-round pick, as well as a 2024 fifth-round pick.
The second-round pick ended up in Jacksonville by way of Chicago due to the next trade on the list. The third and fourth-round selections were both sent to the Steelers in order for the Panthers to trade up to pick 80 and draft DJ Johnson. The 2024 fifth-rounder is the only one that has remained in Carolina, at least for the time being.
Overall, the deal gave the Panthers draft capital in order to make moves down the road. Meanwhile, McCaffrey ended up on a team that was already in position to contend. Not to mention the Panthers’ run game actually improved once the backfield was turned over to D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard. Not to suggest that they’re better than McCaffrey, but the Panthers quickly proved they could manage in the run game either way.
Finally, and most notably, on Mar. 10, 2023, the Panthers sent a load of draft picks and star receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears. Those picks included the ninth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the 2023 second-round pick from the 49ers, a 2024 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick.
In exchange, Carolina received the number one overall pick in the 2023 Draft. With that pick, they selected quarterback Bryce Young out of Alabama. The Bears traded back one spot from the ninth pick, eventually selecting offensive tackle Darnell Wright out of Tennessee. The second-round pick was relocated for a third time and ended up with the Jaguars, who picked tight end Brenton Strange. The other two draft picks, as well as DJ Moore, remain in the Bears’ stable.
While it wasn’t cheap, it’s important to remember that the Panthers had to outbid other teams looking to grab Young. It’ll take at least one season before a winner of this trade can truly be decided. Some determining factors will be Young’s play, Justin Fields’ connection with Moore and the Panthers’ 2023 record. There’s a decent chance this goes down as a win-win, but either side could still end up looking foolish if things go poorly.
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Featured image courtesy of the Carolina Panthers.
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