Bryce YoungJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Starting Quarterback: Bryce Young
2025 Cap Space: $28.1 million
The Carolina Panthers don’t check many boxes when it comes to being an attractive trade destination.
It starts with ownership. David Tepper has fired coaches during the last two seasons, leaving an interim coach to step in and finish out the season. The Panthers received a “D” in the ownership category of the latest NFLPA report card.
The coaching turbulence and key roster-building mistakes have led to the Panthers having six consecutive losing seasons. After coming in second-to-last in our post-draft, it would be quite the feat for first-year head coach Dave Canales to snap that postseason drought in 2024.
Despite a lack of talent in several key spots, the Panthers don’t have a ton of cap room to give out a big contract. They have seven players set to make over $10 million next season, including Jadeveon Clowney, Damien Lewis and Taylor Moton.
The silver lining for the Panthers is that they may have the answer at quarterback. Bryce Young’s rookie season was a massive disappointment, but his environment wasn’t conducive to thrive right away.
Canales has a history of getting the best out of quarterbacks. He had a hand in saving the careers of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield. If he can do the same for Young, then the Panthers suddenly have rising stars at two of the most important positions in football.
Still, the positives lie in hypotheticals, while the hard evidence points to the Panthers being one of the worst places to be in the league right now.