Heading into Week 8, the Carolina Panthers are 3-3 and at the top of the NFC South. And considering how often they have been getting pushed around at the line of scrimmage, that record and standing are pretty impressive.
Credit starting quarterback Bryce Young and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik for much of that—but there's only so much you can do when you keep on losing in the trenches. We saw that this past Sunday, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rushed their way to 258 yards, three touchdowns and a 43-13 win.
For a solution, Brent Sobleski at Bleacher Report says they need to bring in some reinforcements along the defensive line at the trade deadline:
Right now, Carolina is relying on rookie nose tackle Lee Hunter. Tershawn Wharton was in his
second game back from a neck injury. Jaelan Phillips' absence created problems setting the edge as well. Phillips will eventually be back from a hamstring injury. Even so, the Panthers' front office should also look for defensive line reinforcements prior to next month's trade deadline.
On that score, the best name that's likely to be on the market is Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers—who still haven't managed to win a single game. The 35-year-old may be able to provide some immediate heat off the edge, even if it's only for the remainder of the season.
Other potential trade targets for the front seven include Josh Sweat from Arizona, DeForest Buckner from Indianapolis, Moro Ojomo from Philadelphia and Daron Payne from Washington.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL analyst suggests a trade to strengthen Panthers' struggling defensive front
