Panthers tried to trade for receivers Davante Adams, Tee Higgins

It’s a given that the Panthers need to up their passing game. They invested in quarterback Bryce Young, the top pick of this year’s NFL Draft. But if Carolina had their way, perhaps Davante Adams or Tee Higgins would be on the team.

Let’s take you back to Halloween, the NFL trade deadline. ESPN reported this week that the Panthers wanted to kick the tires with the Raiders to see if Adams was available. Same for Higgins with the Bengals. Both those names kept popping up throughout October as the trade speculation reached a crescendo.

But according to ESPN, the Raiders and Bengals had no interest in swapping players or draft picks with the Panthers. So it was a no. The network also reported that Carolina wanted to make a deal with the Commanders for defensive end Montez Sweat. Washington was interested in trading Sweat. They also dealt Chase Young to the 49ers. But Sweat ended up with the Bears.

The Raiders made it known that they wanted to continue building an office around Adams, who is in his second year in Vegas. But the Raiders fired coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler hours after the trade dealine passed.

Panthers need to get through miserable season to start rebuild

The Panthers, who are now 1-8, will be looking to improve their receiving room in the offseason. The team doesn’t have a first-round pick next year. The Bears own that as part of the trade to secure Bryce Young. However, they do have six draft picks. The Panthers also have projected cap space of $42 million to shop the free agent market.

Carolina will need to survive through this very trying season. There are 13 players on injured reserve. And the team may have hit rock bottom at Soldier Field Thursday night in a 16-13 loss to the Bears. The Panthers are off, Sunday, but disgruntled fans are planning a march and rally to protest the season.

Adam Thielen, the team’s most experienced receiver, vented after loss to the Bears.

“We’re just not hitting on all cylinders right now,” Thielen said of the Panthers offense. “We’re not hitting on any cylinders. It’s an embarrassing effort. I think everyone’s just embarrassed, you know, put up what, six points on offense. Like, we didn’t do anything. That’s embarrassing when your defense is playing the way they’re playing, especially the way they’re playing. It’s embarrassing. And like we talked about, we’re putting in good practices. We’re doing the right things; building the momentum that way, but it’s just not translating. That’s tough.”

And coach Frank Reich is making plans to rebuild. It’s a blueprint to add key players around Young on offense and pass rusher Brian Burns on defense.

“You know, you just look to build a team, and it starts with your quarterback,” Reich told reporters. “[Young’s] our guy. We have a blueprint in our mind of how we build that team. What are the pieces? On offense and defense there are more valued positions and you’re trying to get your best players in value positions.

“We want to stick to that blueprint. We know some of that is going to take time.”