With Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson still on injured reserve and their grasp on the NFC South slipping, the Carolina Panthers need help at cornerback as soon as possible. So, could the trade market deliver them any reinforcements?
If the Panthers are going to make a move at the position before the deadline, they might be interested in a few names ESPN has linked them to. First, there's Philadelphia's Riq Woolen, who signed a one-year deal with the Eagles after winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks last season.
ESPN sees him as a fit with a 35-percent chance of getting traded. Senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler writes:
When I talk to rival teams about which players Philly might move, Woolen's name comes up fairly often. He's a high-upside
corner and 2027 free agent whose $1.26 million base salary could help facilitate a trade (much of his $12 million in guarantees came via signing or restructured bonuses).
The worldwide leader also has former Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson, now with the Los Angeles Chargers, listed as a potential trade target. Fowler notes:
Corner is a position of need for several teams, and the Chargers likely could get a draft pick for Jackson. The 30-year-old has ball production and a reasonable contract -- a $6 million base salary. Plus, he is set to hit free agency in March.
Both would help the short-handed Carolina cornerback room right now. But Woolen—who is younger, longer, more athletic and has a significantly higher ceiling than Jackson—feels like the better option.
That isn't to say Woolen doesn't have his own flaws. He has been benched multiple times in his career, both by Pete Carroll and Mike Macdonald—mostly related to effort issues for tackling in space. He has also developed a habit of disappearing in big moments and big games, even though his coverage numbers are pretty strong overall.
If the Panthers can get Woolen for a fourth-round pick he'd be worth it. For Jackson, they shouldn't consider surrendering anymore than a sixth.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers linked to 2 intriguing CBs ahead of NFL trade deadline
