The Carolina Panthers are absolutely hurting right now, figuratively and literally.
For one, they’re coming out of Week 8 having lost two straight games—one an embarrassment of a showing against a one-win division rival and the other a disappointing offering on the prime-time stage. They’re also collapsing under the weight of their injuries—having dealt with setbacks, to key players at key positions, since the first day of training camp.
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But no position on Carolina’s roster has suffered more than cornerback.
That’s why Josh Edwards of CBS Sports tabs corner as the position the Panthers should address ahead of this year’s trade deadline. He writes:
Carolina was 3-2 before Tampa Bay blew off its doors last week. Injuries have riddled the secondary, and one wonders if the team may seek help on the trade market until the unit fully recovers. Poor defensive showings led the team to make a rare in-season coaching change, firing defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. However, nearly halfway through the season, the Panthers remain atop the NFC South.
With Evero out, interim defensive coordinator Todd Wash will have to piece together a room that’s down its first- and second-string players. Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson and Akayleb Evans are all currently on injured reserve, and there’s a chance that 2026 fourth-round pick Will Lee III, who exited Thursday night’s loss to the Green Bay Packers due to a hamstring injury, can join them.
Going into Week 9, the only healthy cornerbacks left on the active roster are Chau Smith-Wade and rookie Malcolm DeWalt IV. They’re also carrying six more on their practice squad—including Marco Wilson, who got a starting nod in Green Bay.
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Edwards goes on to propose five potential trade targets for Carolina—Riq Woolen, Donte Jackson, Alontae Taylor, Amik Robertson and Nahshon Wright. Being that the Panthers are in need of boundary corners—Woolen, Jackson and Wright would make the most sense out of the group.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers linked to 5 CBs ahead of 2026 NFL trade deadline
