The Carolina Panthers are reportedly considering acquiring a starting wide receiver to help Bryce Young transition to the NFL. That makes sense, considering the Panthers were all-in on quarterback Young, so to speak.
The Carolina Panthers made a big trade to pick first in the 2023 NFL Draft. They traded their top catcher, DJ Moore, and some future picks to the Chicago Bears. With that top pick, they chose Bryce Young.
They also got a new coach named Frank Reich to help Young become better. Bryce Young was picked before other good players like C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson.
But Bryce Young’s time in Carolina got off to a shaky start. The Panthers are 0-4 despite Young’s absence. In the three games he has started, the rookie has completed 65% of his pitches, which is solid.
However, he averaged just 167.7 yards per game with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He has been fired 11 times. Add it all up, and you get a passer rating of his meager 75.0.
I’m not bashing Bryce Young: He is still in the early stages of his career, and rookies often reach similar numbers. He needs a little more outside help, and that’s okay.
Adam Thielen is past his prime, D.J. Chark hasn’t had a good season in years, and Jonathan Mingo is still young. So, who are the wide receivers on the trade market that Carolina should pursue?
1. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Davante Adams is already frustrated in Las Vegas despite only playing 21 games in a Raiders jersey. He doesn’t think the Raiders are on the right track, and he wants to win now. The Raiders started 1-3, but with few bright spots, they could be in trouble.
If Las Vegas decides to waive Adams (and running back Josh Jacobs), the Panthers will have to make that decision. Adams switched quarterbacks from Aaron Rodgers to Derek Carr last season, and he didn’t miss a beat.
He passed for over 1,500 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. This year, with Jimmy Garoppolo in the backfield, he’s averaging nearly 100 yards per game, a career high.
Adams still has the ability to be the best wide receiver in the NFL, with the possible exception of Justin Jefferson. (P.S. Despite casual posts on social media, the Minnesota Vikings have no intention of trading Jefferson, so he’s not on this list.)
Adams’ contract is expensive, but the Panthers can afford to pay him because the quarterback is on a rookie contract. He would be a game-changer for Bryce Young at every level of the passing game.
2. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
Well, the Saints don’t want to trade with a divisional opponent, so this trade probably won’t happen. But I really like the fit on paper, so let’s talk about it. Michael Thomas was arguably the league’s best wide receiver four years ago, but he hasn’t been on the field since. He’s not the same athlete he once was, but his skill and understanding of how to get open are still there.
Thomas has played in all four games for the Saints so far, catching 22 passes for 219 yards. New Orleans has him back on the offensive line, but they no longer rely on him as completely as their former team did.
What I like about this fit for Young is Thomas’ reliability in the short to mid-range of the field. Given his physical attributes, Young was not the first choice. Scouts were impressed with his processing ability and game sense.
To translate that to the NFL, Young will need to get used to getting the ball out quickly and controlling the field from the pocket.
Thomas could be a hot target for Young and the security blanket that many great quarterbacks often have. A goal like this is a huge confidence booster for a rookie quarterback.
3. Courtland Sutton and/or Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Please select here. The Broncos have been terrible so far this year, and it doesn’t look like they’re getting any better. If Denver is a train wreck before the trade deadline later this month, it could be worth calling up one of these two players.
Jerry Jeudy has solid potential, but he has yet to develop into the player Denver hoped he would be when they drafted him 15th overall in 2020. He set career highs last season with 67 catches for 972 yards and six touchdowns.
Courtland Sutton put up similar numbers in 2022 but perhaps has a little more potential in the downfield passing game. His best season was 2019, when he gained 1,112 total yards.
These two still have a lot left in the tank and will possibly hit the trading block later this month.
4. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
What’s happening in Cincinnati right now? Most believe the Bengals are at least contending for a spot in this year’s Super Bowl and consider Joe Burrow one of the top three quarterbacks in the NFL. Still, the Bengals are 1-3, and Burrow is statistically the worst quarterback in the league to date. He’s worse than Zach Wilson or Daniel Jones.
The Bengals need to figure out what they want to do with Tee Higgins. Of course, they want to keep it, but do they want to write that check? Will they even be able to write this check?
The problem is, Burrow isn’t healthy yet, and Burrow is the franchise for the Bengals. This calf injury may be a bigger problem than Cincinnati realizes. Let’s say Cincinnati considers this season a disaster and shuts down Burrow for a while.
Maybe they move on from Higgins to build for the future rather than being locked into two huge wide receiver contracts. They still have to pay Ja’Marr Chase on what is undoubtedly a record-breaking contract.
Higgins is a very talented football player, and he is only 24 years old! If the Panthers bring him to their team and keep him for a long time, that would be a very smart move. He is so good that he can possibly be the main receiver for many NFL teams. Right now, he is sharing catches with Chase, but if he becomes the main guy, he might do even better!
