CHARLOTTE — The trade deadline came and went Tuesday, and as Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer promised weeks ago, there was no fire sale.
And with the smoke cleared (and there was plenty of smoke), the Panthers can walk on the practice field Wednesday and get a picture of what they have left this season — but most importantly, what's in place for next season and beyond.
By not dealing players such as defensive end Brian Burns or wide receiver DJ Moore or any of the rest of the often-discussed players at the deadline, the Panthers can proceed with the plan they've discussed the last several years. That means building a stable roster while they can, so the chance at stability at the quarterback position can make a difference.
Of course, the Panthers don't have that at the quarterback position right now, and that's an obvious focus as people think ahead to the offseason.
While PJ Walker is playing well at the moment, the Panthers have just one quarterback under contract for next season — injured rookie Matt Corral.
With Walker, Baker Mayfield, and Sam Darnold all slated to be free agents this offseason (Walker would be a restricted free agent), the Panthers have as close to a clean slate at the position as you're ever going to get. That's good from the standpoint of not having a lot of cap money tied up (offering financial flexibility) but bad from the perspective of not having a clear answer at quarterback (which is kind of important).
But after dealing Robbie Anderson and Christian McCaffrey, the Panthers went from having nine picks combined in 2023 and 2024 to having 14, with all of next year's in the first five rounds and seven of the 14 total in the first three rounds after acquiring a 2023 second, third, fourth, and a 2024 fifth from the 49ers for McCaffrey. (You can see all the Panthers' 2023 draft picks here, and the 2024 draft picks by clicking here.)
That kind of draft currency offers flexibility for the hunt for a quarterback, which is helpful.
And as you look at the roster, there are fewer obvious needs than you might think.
There are nine starters on offense now (everything but the quarterback and center Bradley Bozeman) under contract through 2023 or beyond. On defense, the only current starter not under contract is defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis, underscoring Fitterer's contention that the base of talent here is solid.
That includes a few key starters at high-value positions such as defensive end (Burns), cornerback (Jaycee Horn), wide receiver (Moore), and left tackle (Ikem Ekwonu).
And when you look at the list of unrestricted free agents heading into the offseason, you realize it's heavy on depth players. That group includes Mayfield and Darnold, along with Bozeman and backup offensive linemen Cameron Erving and Michael Jordan, receivers Rashard Higgins and Andre Roberts, running back D'Onta Foreman, Ioannidis and defensive end Henry Anderson, linebacker Cory Littleton, safeties Myles Hartsfield, Sam Franklin Jr., Sean Chandler, and Juston Burris, long snapper JJ Jansen, and kicker Eddy Piñeiro.
Even with that context, there's clearly some work to be done on this roster and some turnover of current starters possible. But they're looking ahead at an offseason of fine-tuning rather than overhauling, and that's a different spot than they've occupied in the recent past.

A new deal for Burns clearly looms on the horizon. He's under contract for the $16 million fifth-year option on his rookie deal for 2023, and the possibility of the franchise tag for one or two years after that leaves them room and time to negotiate.
And with a drafted quarterback looking like a strong possibility and so many existing starters under contract, there should be room to make some targeted additions in free agency.
Again, there are a lot of starters coming back from a team that's 2-6 at the moment, and they don't really know who their coach and quarterback will be next year, so their situation is far from ideal.
But as the Panthers look into an offseason with uncertainty at those two critical positions, the front office can also point to a path forward once they settle those spots.
View the best photos from the pre-game, warmups and game action in Week 8 between Carolina and Atlanta.

RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman

DT - Derrick Brown

CB - Keith Taylor

K - Johnny Hekker

DE - Yetur Gross-Matos

S - Xavier Woods

T - Cameron Erving

S - Sam Franklin Jr.

LB - Brandon Smith

LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu

WR - Terrace Marshall Jr.

CB - Donte Jackson

DE - Brian Burns

CB - Jaycee Horn

WR - DJ Moore

Steve Wilks

WR - 17 - Rashard Higgins

S - 34 - Sean Chandler

DT - 99 - Matt Ioannidis

Steve Wilks

QB - 11 - P.J. Walker

WR - 2 - DJ Moore

QB - 11 - P.J. Walker

QB - 11 - P.J. Walker

QB - 11 - P.J. Walker

WR - 12 - Shi Smith

CB - 8 - Jaycee Horn

TE - 82 - Tommy Tremble

TE - 80 - Ian Thomas

WR - 2 - D.J. Moore

CB - 8 - Jaycee Horn

WR - 2 - DJ Moore

DT - 95 - Derrick Brown
C/G - 56 - Bradley Bozeman
CB - 26 - Donte Jackson
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu

LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu

LB - 7 - Shaq Thompson

DT - 95 - Derrick Brown
CB - 8 - Jaycee Horn


RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman


WR - 2 - D.J. Moore

RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman
TE - 80 - Ian Thomas

WR - 88 - Terrace Marshall Jr.

QB - 11 - P.J. Walker


QB - 11 - P.J. Walker

DE - 53 - Brian Burns


LB - 40 - Brandon Smith

WR - 2 - DJ Moore

LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
LB - 55 - Cory Littleton
LB - 57 - Damien Wilson


CB - 8 - Jaycee Horn

DB - 38 - Myles Hartsfield

QB - 11 - P.J. Walker



DB - 38 - Myles Hartsfield








QB - 11 - P.J. Walker



DB - 38 - Myles Hartsfield

DB - 38 - Myles Hartsfield


WR - 2 - D.J. Moore

QB - 11 - P.J. Walker

QB - 11 - P.J. Walker


WR - 12 - Shi Smith
Rb - 33 - D'Onta Foreman

RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman
WR - 12 - Shi Smith

DT - 95 - Derrick Brown
LB - 57 - Damien Wilson

QB - 11 - P.J. Walker

QB - 11 - P.J. Walker


DB - 38 - Myles Hartsfield



LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu

RB - 2 - D.J. Moore


RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman

T - 70 - Brady Christensen





DT - 95 - Derrick Brown




WR - 88 - Terrace Marshall Jr.

TE - 82 - Tommy Tremble
RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman

LB - 49 - Frankie Lu


RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman

RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman
RB - 41 - Spencer Brown

RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman

DT - 95 - Derrick Brown


CB - 24 - C.J. Henderson

LB - 7 - Shaq Thompson





DT - 95 - Derrick Brown

DB - 38 - Myles Hartsfield

WR - 88 - Terrace Marshall Jr.

TE - 82 - Tommy Tremble
WR - 88 - Terrace Marshall Jr.