The Indianapolis Colts' fire sale before the 2026 trade deadline is underway. This could offer the Carolina Panthers a unique opportunity to strengthen a problem position if the price is right.
Indianapolis is open for business. Perennial Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson was traded to the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Soon after, the Colts shipped prolific defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers.
More moves are reportedly imminent, and nobody is off the table.
Carolina Panthers should call the Colts about Charvarius Ward trade
The Panthers have been reluctant to make any bold incoming trades under general manager Dan Morgan. He values picks highly, preferring to build through the draft and spending his money in free agency.
That's fine, but with expectations raised, a little more aggression is required.
Carolina's cornerback unit went from a strength to a weak link. Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson Sr. are out long-term, and the Panthers haven't brought in outside help as yet. But after an embarrassing performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that could change if the same trend continues on Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers.
Morgan will have the mini-bye to take stock. And if he decides the Panthers need more, calling the Colts about Charvarius Ward Sr. wouldn't be a bad idea.
Ward is Indianapolis' best-performing cornerback right now, which is sad to say after they gave up a king's ransom to the New York Jets for Sauce Gardner. There would be some significant financial ramifications to consider, but if the Panthers are serious about winning right now, something has to be done.
The Colts are clearly willing sellers as they look towards the future. Carolina might be content with what it has, and Horn and Jackson are expected back at some stage.
Carolina Panthers need to make the money work in potential Charvarius Ward trade
Just when that'll be is anyone's guess. And the Panthers need help right now.
Morgan was right to build the program the right way when he took the job. He was bullish during the offseason, and his aggressive moves reflected that. The Panthers made the playoffs last season, but turning this into sustained success is completely different.
Will Lee III is performing well enough, aside from the expected rookie growing pains. Akayleb Evans is a liability, and Chau Smith-Wade is out of favor. Besides that, there is almost nothing, and it's having a detrimental impact.
Not adding anyone after losing arguably the league's best cornerback tandem in one fell swoop was organizational malpractice.
But there is still time to fix it.
Ward's contract is not expiring, which is a potential issue.
He counts $24.66 million against the cap on the final year of his deal in 2027, but there is no more guaranteed money. That is probably off-putting for a team with no financial wiggle room, but there are ways to work around it.
Maybe a contract restructure could move some money around to take on Ward. Maybe a higher draft pick could get the Colts to take on more of his salary. They could also cut an underperforming player to free up additional space.
That might be the way to go, but it would also go against everything Morgan has done since assuming command of Carolina's front office.
Money makes the world go round in the NFL. The Panthers don't have much of it to spend, and kicking the can down the road comes with its own complications.
But a player with Ward's talent might make it a risk worth taking.
Add us as a preferred source on Google