Panthers Veteran Still on Chopping Block After Trade Deadline

The Carolina Panthers were unsurprisingly sellers at the November 5 trade deadline. They had previously parted ways with veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson. They further emptied their WR rotation by trading Jonathan Mingo to the Dallas Cowboys. Now, Bryce Young will have a depleted pass-catching room for the second half of the season.

One area the Panthers are not short of talent, however, is the running back rotation. In fact, many Panthers fans were expecting a move to offload one of their talented rushers. With the pending return of Jonathon Brooks, the Panthers have three high-level running backs that could make an impact on another team. This made Miles Sanders superfluous and available on the trade market.

Much to the surprise of the fanbase, Sanders remains with the team past the trade deadline.

This doesn't mean that he will have a role going forward. Brooks was a full participant in practice this week and should see significant snaps immediately. Considering how well Chuba Hubbard has been playing, there probably isn't room for Sanders in the rotation.

Ever since he was signed as a free agent in the 2023 offseason, Sanders has struggled in Carolina. In his final season with the Eagles, he had put up 1,269 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl honors. Since becoming a Panther, the 27-year-old is averaging 3.4 yards per carry for a total of 566 yards and two touchdowns in 25 games.

This season, Sanders has been a bigger part of the passing game, recording seven catches in the Week 8 loss to the Broncos. However, it's still hard to justify keeping him around for much longer. Whether it is in mid-season or the 2025 offseason, Sanders will likely be cut before next season rolls around.

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