The NFL trade deadline is waving the checkered flag, as today is the ‘final lap’ with the deadline set for 4 p.m. EST. The Carolina Panthers’ win against the NFC-leading Green Bay Packers has fans, and perhaps even other teams, waiting curiously to see how the team approaches the event.
Carolina Panthers Activity Level at the Trade Deadline Could Go Either Way
We’ve already seen a couple of moves being made in the past 24 hours, with the Philadelphia Eagles acquiring EDGE Jaelan Phillips away from the Miami Dolphins, and the Dallas Cowboys trading for Cincinnati Bengals’ LB Logan Wilson.
We discussed the prospect of Wilson being a potential trade candidate for the Panthers last week. Scratch that one off the list.
NFL Insider and CBS Sports writer Jonathan Jones had the following to say about Carolina’s potential deadline outlook:
“If you’re waiting on snakes and sparklers around the league, you may prepare yourself for the pop-its in Carolina. I don’t get the sense they’ll do anything that is more than a late-round pick swap for a player if they do anything at all.”
Despite the Week 9 victory, Jones also says, “The Panthers know they’re building something, and I don’t get the sense they are under any illusions they are one player away from a deep playoff run. They will want to keep legitimate capital to continue building through the draft.”
Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle have been the most frequently mentioned players in relation to the Panthers and trade possibilities. However, Dowdle just produced a 25-attempt, 130-rushing-yard, and two-touchdown performance in Green Bay.
Hubbard is a key cog in the Panthers’ locker room culture and one of the best insurance plans in the league, given that he came off a 1,000-yard rushing campaign just last season.
Name Floating Around Panthers Rumors
The Phillips move is interesting because it appears to corroborate reports that the Dolphins could look to unload some household names before the deadline, as they seem to be headed for a shift in franchise trajectory.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (No. 21 in PFSN SAFi rankings) is widely believed to be available in trade talks.
Fitzpatrick has been named to the NFL All-Pro team three times in his career. He’s 28 years old and will carry a base salary of $15.6 million in 2026. The financial element is likely to be a sticking point when determining a reasonable trade compensation value.
The on-field combination of Fitzpatrick and current Panthers safety Tre’Von Moehrig would provide defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero with even more ammunition and versatility in the secondary. Both players can execute well inside the box as hammers and pressure pieces, but can also rotate post-snap to disguise coverage looks, or align from depth to cover the deep third.