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Following years of dysfunction and mismanagement, the Carolina Panthers finally graduated out of the NFL’s basement last season. Their 8-9 record was good enough to win the NFC South and earn them their first playoff spot since 2017.
Carolina’s exit from the bottom left an opening for the title of the league’s most embarrassing franchise. The New York Jets were quick to oblige, coming in with a 3-14 record—tied with the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans for the worst in the league.

After trading two Pro Bowl defenders in Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner, effectively blowing the core of their team up, the only real star the Jets may have left is wide receiver Garrett Wilson—who might be next to go. Garrett Podell at CBS Sports recently identified five stars who may soon be traded, and included this nugget on the former first-round pick:

Despite being shut down with a lingering knee injury in Week 10, the 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year wide receiver still ended up leading the 2025 New York Jets in receiving yards with 395. Wilson played just seven games while producing the fewest receiving yards by an NFL team leader since 1976, excluding the 1982 strike season, per CBS Sports Research.

A potential landing spot for Wilson could be the Panthers, who were linked to the 25-year-old last offseason. But since then, Carolina found themselves a legit No. 1 pass catcher in reigning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan and a possible No. 2 in the recently-extended Jalen Coker.
So, would there still be room for Wilson? Well . . . why not?
Adding Wilson would give the Panthers one of, if not the top wideout trio in the league. McMillan and Wilson could primarily line up on the outside while Coker plays the role of the big slot.

Plus, equipping quarterback Bryce Young with another capable playmaker—especially given the collective outlook on his group of weapons—isn’t a terrible idea ahead of an important 2026 campaign.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL trade rumors: Could Panthers be a suitor for WR Garrett Wilson?
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