Carolina Panthers’ defense could use another key addition amid ambitious overhaul and the perfect answer is available on another team’s trade block

The Carolina Panthers defensive overhaul this offseason is an ambitious project that, on paper, should be a rousing success. The 2024 edition of the unit was woeful, conceding a whopping 534 points to opponents — the highest mark in franchise history by more than 60 points. The frustration came in part due to personnel transitions. Brian Burns? Traded. Frankie Luvu and Jeremy Chinn? Gone in free agency.The numbers came despite a defensive coordinator who boasts a glowing reputation in Ejiro Evero. 

The hope in 2025? That Evero will have the talent needed at his disposal to see his play calls and schemes executed at a much higher level.

Free agency got things off to a great start for Carolina this offseason, with additions such as Bobby Brown III, Tershawn Wharton, Trevon Moehrig and Patrick Jones II to the depth chart. Paying in free agency for starters can be risky business — as the variance of new players in new environments can be unpredictable. And, courtesy of a rising cap and the open market, competitive prices in free agency are not cheap.

Nonetheless, Carolina’s front looks much more formidable, especially when you pair it with the return of Derrick Brown to the field in 2025 and then the NFL Draft infusion of a pair of pass rushers. Nic Scourton brings power and versatility, whereas Princely Umanmielen brings speed and twitch off the edge. The departure of Jadeveon Clowney makes ample room for the youngsters to get reps.

Looking up and down this depth chart, Carolina is probably still a piece or two away from having a fully finished overhaul for 2025. After Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who is in line to be traded this summer, heaped some praise in Evero’s direction earlier this month, some speculate whether or not the Panthers should make the splash move for Ramsey next.

It’d be, much like the rest of Carolina’s defensive overhaul, ambitious. And expensive — at least in cash, not necessarily in trade compensation. While the idea of adding Ramsey to Carolina’s front is fun, it isn’t necessarily the best trade target the Panthers could pursue that would help their defense fully round into form. If Carolina were to trade for a veteran player to help their defense, they should look to Cincinnati and pursue linebacker Germaine Pratt.

Pratt has formally requested a trade from the Bengals earlier this offseason — which appears to be an annual occurrence for Bengals players these days. More often than not, the trade requests blow over and nothing comes of them, just ask Trey Hendrickson. But the Bengals appeared to draft Pratt’s replacement in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, securing Demetrius Knight from South Carolina. A second-round draft choice is a meaningful investment, one that could have the Bengals prepared to cash out entering into a contract year with Pratt in 2025.

For the Panthers, linebacker looms as the biggest remaining area of need. The defensive line has been refueled. Jaycee Horn has been locked in on a long-term deal. The Panthers drafted another physical safety in Lathan Ransom to go with Moehrig on the back end. Yes, the team drafted Trevin Wallace with a top-75 draft selection in 2024. But he is much better suited to play in close quarters and trigger downhill than serve as a rangy coverage defender.

Pratt has the kind of range and mobility to be particularly impactful playing behind the likes of Brown III, Brown and Wharton up front. Next to Josey Jewell, the Panthers would be able to boast a formidable and proven duo of linebackers on passing downs while allowing Wallace to be played situationally as a young talent. Pratt is a better suited linebacker to pair with the aggressive safeties that Carolina has added as well, giving Evero the kind of athleticism in the middle of the field to get exotic with his coverage rotations.

The financials for Pratt are modest. He turned 29 years old yesterday and will play in a contract year this season for $5.6 million in cash. As a result, he would feasibly be a modest price point for a trade acquisition — especially if the Bengals are as excited about their new young linebacker as you’d assume them to be.

This kind of move may lack some of the same weight of Carolina’s free agent swings, but it could be a nice cherry on top to bolster the depth and versatility of their second level of the defense.