NFL insider suggests Panthers could trade for Mike Tomlin

If one NFL insider is to be believed, the Carolina Panthers could look to add one of the top coaches in the sport by using an approach rarely seen in the NFL.

The David Tepper era as the owner of the Panthers has been a mess. The billionaire hedge fund manager purchased the organization right before the 2018 season, and the Panthers' 7-9 record that year is the best mark the team has had in that time.

The following season the organization fired longtime head coach Ron Rivera during the year and duplicated that decision in 2022 when they dismissed his replacement, Matt Rhule, after just five games.

The Panthers with Tepper as the top decision-maker will now head into 2023 looking for their third head coach in six seasons and desperately in need of a winning culture and some stability.

In pursuit of finding a head coach with a track record that could more likely guarantee the results the team is looking for, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio believes the Panthers boss might be willing to part with serious draft compensation to finally find a long-term answer for the opening.

During a conversation with Pittsburgh radio station 93.7 The Fan (h/t SI.com's Noah Strackbein), Mike Florio explained why he thinks more teams should make trades for other organization’s head coaches — compensation be damned — and his belief Tepper could do exactly that to land a distinguished talent like Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

“I don’t think teams do [trades for coaches] enough. It happened a couple of times in the past decade. We know it’s going to happen with Sean Payton at some point. I’m talking about trading for a guy like Jon Gruden with the Raiders, Buccaneers come in with a couple of first-round picks, boom, they do the deal. There was compensation for Herm Edwards, compensation for Bruce Arians who was already retired from the Arizona Cardinals. It wouldn’t surprise me if Tepper does it.”

“Maybe Tomlin to Carolina, it wouldn’t surprise me if it happens. I am surprised that vehicle isn’t used more often to hire highly accomplished Super Bowl-winning coaches.”