The Carolina Panthers are in the thick of a crowded race in the NFC South, where all four teams head into Week 10 with three wins apiece. Technically, they're still in first place—but one loss could send them to the bottom of the pile.
That's why a lot of folks expected the front office to be aggressive at the NFL trade deadline, which passed yesterday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. ET. Alas, they did not make a deal—even with needs along the offensive line, in their pass rush and at a vulnerable cornerback room.
For their lack of moves, Zachary Pereles at CBS Sports has given Carolina a 'C-' grade for the deadline. Pereles writes:
The Panthers stood pat when additions at cornerback or offensive line could have been helpful. Carolina has not acquired a player
via in-season trade since 2021, so perhaps the inaction was always going to be the case, but it feels like in a winnable NFC South, the Panthers could have done something to up their chances.
While their best chance to upgrade their roster for this season may have passed, it's important to keep in mind that the Panthers did give themselves some financial flexibility for the remainder of the campaign after restructuring the contract of offensive tackle Taylor Moton.
Also, it's important to be realistic about where this team stands compared to the rest of the league. For now, they have a good chance to win their division for the second straight season—but that means exactly nothing as far as actually contending for a championship.
Giving up draft capital now to try to compete in 2026 is not the right idea—as tough as it is to swallow. The Panthers are focused on competing in the long run, which means not making a move at the deadline was the right move.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers given low grade for quiet trade deadline
