Could disgruntled Bears WR be option for Panthers at trade deadline?

The Panthers have started the Bryce Young era 0-3, though Young was unable to play in last week’s loss to the Seahawks due to an ankle injury. In spite of the disappointing start, Carolina is not necessarily going to be a seller at the Oct. 31 trade deadline and is actually looking to acquire another wide receiver, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.

Of course, the Panthers traded former WR1 D.J. Moore to the Bears in order to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft and select Young, and the team added veteran wideouts Adam Thielen and DJ Chark, along with tight end Hayden Hurst, to aid in the development of its rookie passer. Carolina also selected Jonathan Mingo in the second round of the 2023 draft.

Thielen, Chark, Mingo, and 2021 second-rounder Terrace Marshall have seen plenty of playing time, but only Thielen and Chark have topped 100 receiving yards through the first three games of the season. Per Rapoport, the Panthers believe that another wideout will help to unlock Young’s potential, and GM Scott Fitterer has called several teams that may be looking to move a receiver.

Rapoport does not identify the teams that Fitterer has called or the players that he might be targeting. A report from this morning indicated that the Bears are looking to trade WR Chase Claypool, but Claypool is in a contract year, and Rapoport suggested that the Panthers could be looking for a player with more club control (he did not explicitly say so, but he did write that Carolina is seeking to solidify its roster for 2023 “and beyond.”) Given Claypool’s difficulties in Chicago and the fact that his effort has been questioned by his coaching staff and his teammates, he may not be the most logical target.

In addition to another receiver, the Panthers could also be in the market for safety, according to Rapoport. Starting safety Xavier Woods is dealing with a hamstring injury, and Carolina may want additional depth in the defensive backfield.