Panthers named potential trade suitor for Pro Bowl defender

Every NFL team’s roster needs change throughout the season due to injuries and performance issues. Thanks to the gruesome arm injury to Claudin Cherelus in Sunday’s big win, the Carolina Panthers brought in two linebackers for workouts on Tuesday, as well as a defensive back.

The Panthers are also looking at running backs in the wake of putting Jonathon Brooks on injured reserve with a groin tweak. According to multiple reports, the team is bringing in former Los Angeles Charger and Washington Commander Austin Ekeler

Carolina could also still use more depth for their interior defensive line, where starters Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III have been sidelined. On that front, Kristopher Knox at Bleacher Report has linked the Panthers with Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne as a potential trade target.

If the Commanders decide that it’s not too soon to look ahead to 2027 and beyond, they should strongly consider moving defensive tackle Daron Payne. The 29-year-old is set to be a free agent in the spring, and while he’s arguably Washington’s most important impending free agent, there’s no guarantee he’ll want to return if the Commanders have another wasted campaign.

If the Commanders decide that it’s not too soon to look ahead to 2027 and beyond, they should strongly consider moving defensive tackle Daron Payne. The 29-year-old is set to be a free agent in the spring, and while he’s arguably Washington’s most important impending free agent, there’s no guarantee he’ll want to return if the Commanders have another wasted campaign.

A former first-round pick out of Alabama, Payne has made just one Pro Bowl team in his career—but has consistently performed at a pretty high level. In 132 career games, he has posted 37.0 sacks, 82 quarterback hits and 65 tackles for a loss.

Payne’s utility against the run could help the Panthers most, as they rank last in rushing yards allowed going into Week 3 by a pretty wide margin.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers named potential trade suitor for Pro Bowl defender