Carolina Panthers: 3 trade targets from the Miami Dolphins

Carolina Panthers trade target No. 3: Raekwon McMillan (LB)

Regardless of whether Tahir Whitehead performs well in 2019 or not. The Carolina Panthers will need to find a long-term replacement for Luke Kuechly following his shock retirement this offseason.

They didn’t address this either in the free agency period or the 2020 NFL Draft. So if things don’t turn out as expected with Whitehead, then a contingency plan needs to be put in place at the earliest possible opportunity.

Raekwon McMillan has shown enormous promise since entering the league as a second-round pick out of Ohio State. And he continues to trend on an upward curve heading into the final year of his rookie deal.

There is plenty to admire about the sort of skills McMillan brings to the table. He is a tackling force at the second level who always seems to be around the ball. And he also possesses the right sort of athleticism to make an impact in coverage.

The linebacker will be a hot commodity on the free-agent market next spring if he makes it that far. But if the Panthers want to stake an exclusive claim for his services, then exploring a possible trade for McMillan might be an option worth considering.

They would need to be convinced that the player is willing to commit his long-term future to the Panthers next year. But McMillan fits into their ethos of young and hungry players with a high ceiling.

He has secured some impressive stats during his brief time in the league. McMillian has 104 solo tackles, 177 combined tackles, eight tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and two pass deflections over a two-year spell with the Miami Dolphins. And although he needs to improve his ability to get in the backfield, the player seems like a good scheme fit.