The 3-4 Carolina Panthers have seen better days this season. One more matchup remains before next week's trade deadline, as they'll host the 6-2 Denver Broncos at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday.

However that game goes, the Panthers have to think about their biggest needs right now and weigh what it's worth to push for a second-straight division title. While they still hold first place in the NFC South, it's a very tenuous one—and Carolina will likely need reinforcements to hang onto that lead.

On that score, The Athletic's beat reporter for the Panthers, Joe Person, thinks they should be buyers over these next handful of days. Person writes:

Owner David Tepper said in September the Panthers look like a playoff team, which normally would put a GM like Dan Morgan in buy mode. But the Panthers have less than $1 million in cap space and would need to restructure a contract or two before swinging a deal. Morgan and coach Dave Canales seem content to wait for veterans Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson to come off IR rather than trade for a corner. But giving up a Day 3 pick for an offensive lineman on a rookie contract makes sense for a team that has struggled to protect Bryce Young.

Carolina has struggled to protect Young, particularly of late. He took 11 sacks over their last two games, both losses, and could continue to line up behind a trench without three of its usual starters.

But, as Person alludes to, they also have a dire need at cornerback—where Horn and Jackson have been out since Week 4. 2026 fourth-round pick Will Lee III has been passable filling one of the voids, but the Panthers haven't nailed down the other—now giving practice-squad member Marco Wilson a shot at the starting lineup.

Another problem is that lack of cap space, which head coach Dave Canales acknowledged to reporters on Tuesday. So unfortunately for Carolina, they may be too hamstrung—in more ways than one—to move the needle with a trade.