4 trade targets at safety for the Carolina Panthers
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers trade target No. 3: Deon Bush – Bears
Another avenue the Carolina Panthers could go down if they want more safety help is making a call to the Chicago Bears in pursuit of Deon Bush. The player turned in a series of eye-catching displays on a rotational basis in 2019. But his chances of starting for a formidable-looking defense appear slim.
This might be something the Panthers can take advantage of if the price is right. Bush was on the field for just 5.9 percent of the Bears’ defensive snaps last season. But he played well enough to earn an outstanding 81.9 grade from Pro Football Focus.
He was given a one-year, $1.26 million contract extension in Chicago this offseason. But the chance of a more substantial role in Carolina would undoubtedly interest the former fourth-round pick out of Miami.
Bush is more than capable of fitting into the new scheme in Carolina. He is athletic, possesses a strong football IQ, and seems to have the sort of demeanor that the Panthers sought heavily during their recruitment process in recent months.
It would be unlikely to cost anything more than a mid-to-late draft selection in 2021 to bring him to the organization. Bush has a tremendous amount of upside entering his fifth year in the league and it is an option worth considering given his scope for further improvement with more time on the field.