Panthers Have Big WR Trade Opportunity After Thursday's NFL Firing

The Carolina Panthers ended the regular season on a high note, defeating the Atlanta Falcons, 44-38 in overtime. It was a huge moment for the Panthers as second-year QB Bryce Young had his best game in a Carolina uniform.

Young completed 25-of-34 passes for 251 yards and scored five total TDs (three – passing and two – rushing). The former No. 1 overall pick showed the fan base and the Panthers’ front office that he’s their franchise QB.

With Young solidifying himself as the top guy in Carolina, the Panthers need to get him another weapon at wide receiver. This past offseason, the Panthers tried to supply Young with a WR1 in Diontae Johnson.

However, the Johnson experience did not work out for the Panthers, who eventually moved him to the Baltimore Ravens before the NFL trade deadline. The veteran receiver had 30 receptions (58 targets) for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games.

Even though Johnson did not pan out, the Panthers should not shy away from trying to acquire another wide receiver. In fact, with the Las Vegas Raiders firing head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco, Carolina GM Dan Morgan should inquire about Raiders veteran wide receiver Jakobi Meyers.

Meyers’ name came up in trade rumors before the trade deadline in November, but the Raiders kept him. With the team not on the path of playoff contention anytime soon, Meyers would be a great option, alongside Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen, and Jalen Coker.

Despite the inconsistent QB play this season, the 28-year-old Meyers still had his best year as a pro with 87 receptions (129 targets) for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns. 

Meyers doesn’t have game-breaking speed or insane route running, but he has good hands and knows how to get open. The veteran wide receiver has a cap hit of $14.9 million for 2025 before becoming a free agent in 2026.

According to OverTheCap.com, the Panthers are projected to have $22.7 million in cap space, which isn’t a lot to work with when you have 21 UFAs. However, it’s enough to take on Meyers’ contract. 

When the Panthers acquired Johnson this past offseason, they sent veteran CB Donte Jackson to Pittsburgh, swapped fourth-round picks, and got a 2024 seventh-round pick back. Looking at the Panthers’ 2025 picks, they have to use fourth-rounders and three fifth-round picks to use in a potential trade for Meyers. 

Carolina likely won’t use all those selections in the draft, so why not package a couple of picks to go after a bonafide starter in Meyers?

More Panthers news and analysis: