The NFL trade deadline is 4:00pm Eastern time today (Tuesday). There’s been more activity around the trade deadline in recent years as teams have started to find the utility in becoming buyers or sellers based on the way their seasons are going. The Carolina Panthers are just 3-5, but they do technically lead the NFC South. That would suggest they’re more likely to be buyers at the deadline if anything, and they did a bit of bookkeeping to confirm that.
According to Spotrac, the Panthers restructured offensive tackle Taylor Moton’s deal to save themselves $3.5 million against this season’s salary cap. It’s the typical restructure move. They converted some of his base salary (which counts entirely against this season’s cap) to a signing bonus (which is spread across the length of the deal). The team was right at the salary cap before this move, and now they have some wiggle room to add a piece at the deadline if there’s one that suits them.
The $3.5 million number isn’t going to fit any blockbuster acquisition, even if it is only a player’s base salary. If anything, the Panthers will peruse the league’s worst teams for some inexpensive veterans that can fill the void in the secondary while Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, and Will Lee recover from their injuries. Same could be said for the offensive line, where injuries have caused problems and subpar play has caused even more.
However, it’s more likely that his move is to give the team some wiggle room to sign or claim free agents. The team hosted cornerback Jack Jones for a visit the other day but haven’t yet offered him a contract. Moves like that would require the kind of space the Moton restructure opens up, so that seems like the route in which the Panthers will spend the extra money they’ve freed up.
