Top WR trade targets for the Carolina Panthers

3. Chase Claypool, Chicago Bears

Of all the receivers on this list, Claypool is the only one who isn’t a No. 1 option on his current team. And he might not ever be a true No. 1 WR, but he certainly has a higher upside than what the Panthers have now with Adam Thielen, Terrace Marshall Jr., Jonathan Mingo, and D.J. Chark.

Claypool is a big-bodied target (6-foot-4, 238 pounds) who could come in clutch in goal-line situations. He showed during his first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers that he can stretch the field (27 receptions of 20 yards or more, six receptions of 40 yards or more) and he has solid success with contested catches (39.1% success rate), per Pro Football Focus. The 25-year-old would at least be an upgrade for Young, and he reportedly would only cost a fifth- or sixth-round pick.

4. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders

If the Panthers want to make a statement, this is how they do it. There could be a fire sale in Vegas if the 1-3 Raiders keep stacking losses. They have four more games before the trade deadline, and it’s likely the team could be sitting at 3-5 or worse by then. 

If the Raiders do decide to start selling off pieces for a rebuild, Adams is unquestionably their most valuable asset. The Panthers don’t have their 2024 first-rounder because of the Young trade this year, but maybe their 2025 first-rounder plus 2024 second-rounder could be enticing. They could also dangle defensive lineman Brian Burns, which would surely lower Adams' cost a bit.

5. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The 3-1 Bucs have said they have no intention of trading Evans, but everyone has a price. Evans just turned 30 and it’s hard to see him figuring into Tampa’s long-term future with the kind of money he will likely command on the free-agent market next summer.

If Tampa has no intention of re-signing him, why not ship him to a WR-needy team like Carolina and at least get something for him? Because he will be a free agent next year and he’ll turn 31 by the time next season starts, the compensation for Evans won’t be as high as Adams or Jeudy, but a second- or third-rounder sounds like a fair price as opposed to losing him for nothing. Evans could step right in and give Young a reliable No. 1 weapon who’s had nine straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his career.