Carolina Panthers: 3 trade targets from the Detroit Lions

Carolina Panthers trade target: Taylor Decker (OT)

The Carolina Panthers have plenty of uncertainty surrounding their offensive line heading into 2020. They have just two projected starters coming back on the unit. And their chances of developing chemistry in a shortened preseason appear to be getting slimmer by the day.

Russell Okung was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers that sent perennial Pro Bowler Trai Turner in the other direction. This move was primarily driven by financial circumstances. And it could leave the Panthers with $13 million extra in salary cap space to work in free agency next year.

Taylor Decker is in the same boat as Okung from a contractual perspective. He is set to make a little more than $10 million in base salary and will become an unrestricted free agent next spring. The Panthers might be in the market for him at this particular point if he cannot agree to an extension with the Detroit Lions. But the shrewd move would be to offer a mid-round pick to acquire him and avoid the player getting multiple offers from different teams.

This is something the Lions might accept if Decker has outlined his desire to move on. And although it appears unlikely given Carolina’s cap restrictions currently. They have shown a willingness to move some money around if they identify a player of need in recent months.