Star WR could be among Panthers gone in 2023

The Panthers are under new management, but don't expect wholesale changes from new head coach Frank Reich. The team needs a franchise QB, but Reich noted Carolina's strong rushing attack as the reason why the job attracted him. 

RB Chuba Hubbard (466 yards) will probably be back, but Carolina must work to get under the cap to re-sign lead back D'Onta Foreman (914 yards), a free agent. 

The Panthers (7-10), who have the ninth overall pick, are in good shape to draft one of the top QBs. The defense has a strong foundation with DE Brian Burns, free safety Jeremy Chinn and a solid group of linebackers that includes Cory Littleton, Frankie Luvu and Shaq Thompson.

The organization is $7.7 million over the salary cap and must be crafty to get under it. Here are three players who could be gone in 2023:

D.J. Moore, wide receiver

While Moore would certainly make a young QB's job easier, the organization should listen to trade offers for its star receiver. Moving Moore only makes sense in a post-June 1 trade, as that would save the franchise $20.2 million while only counting as $4.9 million in dead money. 

Trades involving wide receivers ballooned last offseason, with Davante Adams, A.J. Brown, Marquise Brown and Tyreek Hill changing teams.

Several teams should be in the wide receiver market, and a trade could net the Panthers valuable picks. There's value to be found at receiver in the draft, including Tennessee's Jalin Hyatt. An early-round WR paired with a top QB prospect could be the start of a promising future in Carolina.

Damien Wilson, linebacker

Thanks to the performances from Littleton, Luvu and Thompson, the seldom-used Wilson is expendable after eight seasons with the Cowboys, Chiefs, Jaguars and Panthers in 2022. He signed a two-year, $6.9 million contract prior to the 2022 season but only played 18% of the team's defensive snaps, per Pro Football Reference. 

Carolina could designate Wilson as a pre-June 1 cut and save $3.6 million.

Donte Jackson, cornerback

If the Panthers have one glaring problem on defense, it's the second cornerback behind rising star Jaycee Horn. Per Pro Football Focus, Horn was graded as the 29th-best cornerback of 118; the three other graded Carolina cornerbacks all ranked 101st or lower. 

Cutting Jackson would be costly -- the team would accrue $12.1 million in dead money -- but the Panthers would save $5.2 million in 2023 and $10.6 million in 2024. Carolina will have several cheaper options in free agency to choose from as it seeks to improve its cornerback depth.