As free agency continues into the third week, the Carolina Panthers have done more selling than buying. The team has lost a good bit of offensive depth thanks to the open market, but has not done too much to try and replace it. The Panthers appear to be missing out on more players than they can sign. While several marquee moves remain available, the Panthers are happy where they are.
The Panthers have lost all-time leading receiver Steve Smith. After releasing the veteran, Smith signed a three-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Ted Ginn Jr opted to leave for the Arizona Cardinals. Brandon LaFell was signed by the New England Patriots. Carolina was forced to sign Jerricho Cotchery who becomes a No. 1 receiver by default. Behind him is tight end Greg Olsen. So does the team make a trade for a marquee player like DeSean Jackson?
According to ESPN.com writer David Newton, the Panthers are not interested in making a deal for Jackson no matter how much the receiver would help the offense. Newton writes, "The Panthers don't have any interest in trading for Jackson even though they have been reported as one of several teams that have inquired. Don't look for that to change even if Jackson is released, which is the apparent direction this is headed."
Newton states that part of the reason has to do with the release of Smith early in free agency. Carolina is concerned that making a big move for Jackson would create some locker room distractions and the team feels the move would be too hard to explain. So if Jackson is off the table, what about the draft?
The downfall of having a good season is that the Panthers do not draft until No. 28 in the first round. The team is predicted to take a wide receiver pretty quickly considering their recent losses. However, drafting that far down the board could put them out of the running for the two best at the position, Mike Evans and Sammy Watkins.
Newton continues to write in his column that the Carolina Panthers are also not interested in moving up ten spots to grab either receiver. Right now, the Panthers will likely grab a receiver in the second round and target a tackle in the first round. That could leave the team with players like Marqise Lee, Odell Backham Jr or Jordan Matthews.
