The Carolina Panthers have been in rebuilding mode for the past several seasons, and while the franchise has struggled to stack wins, it has quietly assembled a roster with some major potential. But how does the rest of the league view Carolina’s top talent when it comes to trade value?
That’s exactly what ESPN’s Bill Barnwell explored in a recent breakdown, where he assigned hypothetical trade values to notable players across the NFL, including several high-profile Panthers. His analysis goes beyond just raw stats, factoring in age, contract status, scheme fit, and long-term upside to show how the league views Carolina’s most important assets.
Tetairoa McMillan: First-Round Value on a Rookie Deal
GettyThe Rookie Receiver Who Might Be the Key to Turning It All Around
The lone Panther Barnwell believes would command a first-round pick in a trade is rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the team’s 2025 first-round selection.
McMillan was selected at No. 8 overall and enters the league at a time when top-tier receivers are commanding increasingly massive contracts. If he proves to be a hit, the Panthers could have a high-end starter on a cost-controlled deal through at least 2028 (just under $28 million across four years, with a possible fifth-year option).
While McMillan has yet to play a down in the NFL, his draft pedigree, cap-friendly contract, and positional value make him Carolina’s most attractive asset.
Just Outside the Tier: Brown, Horn, and Young
GettyWhat Keeps These Stars Just Outside the Top Tier?
Beyond McMillan, Barnwell didn’t place any other Panthers in the first-round trade value bracket, but three high-profile names were close.
Defensive tackle Derrick Brown had a breakout season in 2023, earning a major payday in the form of a four-year, $96 million extension. But after signing the deal, Brown missed most of 2024 with a torn meniscus. Brown has undeniable talent, but his injury history and contract make him a tough trade target. As Barnwell puts it, “there are two young defensive building blocks, but both are signed to significant contracts and have major injury concerns.”
Cornerback Jaycee Horn has the talent to be a No. 1 lockdown corner but much like Brown, availability has been the issue. Horn has played just 37 out of 68 possible games since entering the league, a troubling trend for a player who now carries a $25 million per year contract. “A healthy Horn would be worth a first-round pick,” Barnwell wrote. “But factoring in a new deal… I’m not sure a lot of other teams would be willing to take that plunge.”
Quarterback Bryce Young remains the most interesting figure in Carolina’s rebuild. After a rocky start to 2024 that saw him briefly benched in September, Young returned with a noticeably improved performance over the second half of the season. Still, questions remain about whether the version of Young that showed flashes of promise in late 2024 is the real deal or just a step in the right direction.
Outside of Tetairoa McMillan, the team lacks young stars with elite trade value, largely due to injuries, contract situations, or ongoing questions about development.
Still, that doesn’t mean Carolina is without building blocks. If Derrick Brown returns healthy, Jaycee Horn can finally string together a full season, and Bryce Young continues his upward trajectory, this roster could look very different by next year.
For now, though, the Panthers’ best chance at shifting the league’s view of their talent is simple: stay healthy, develop consistently, and prove it on the field.
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