Panthers 'Unlikely' to Flip Picks for Tee Higgins

CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones shuts down a potential trade for the star receiver.

Mock drafters rejoice.

Jonathan Jones from CBS Sports posted on X earlier this morning that it is unlikely that the Panthers will flip the 33rd and 39th pick for Tee Higgins. When Higgins formally requested a trade yesterday morning, steam poured out of the hype train of the Carolina fanbase at the thought of Higgins wearing Process Blue. 

Unfortunately for that hype train, Jones said that no conversations have happened between Carolina and Cincinnati, and a trade is not likely to happen.

With Carolina now in possession of picks 33 and 39, there had been some talk of packaging those in a trade for a player like WR Tee Higgins. A league source tells me no conversations have taken place between Carolina and Cincinnati, and a trade is not likely to happen.

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 12, 2024

Jones follows up his original post by saying that Carolina knows they need to build through the draft, not flip assets for a big name, win now asset.

The Panthers, for the first time in years, are taking a future-focused approach to roster building. Following years of trading draft picks for players (Stephon Gilmore, CJ Henderson, Laviska Shenault, Bryce Young, to name a few), the new regime in Carolina is going the other way. 

The first few hours of free agency have seen Dan Morgan and Dave Canales start the tear down of what was built before them. Brian Burns was traded, Frankie Luvu and Yetur Gross-Matos weren't re-signed, and Vonn Bell and Donte Jackson were released. It's a new era on Mint Street and things can't get better without getting worse first. 

After fortifying his protection, Carolina's biggest question is about Bryce Young's weapons. The second-year signal-caller is still lacking his alpha target on the outside, and many assumed that one of the team's two second round picks would be spent on a pass-catcher for Young. According to Jones, that pass catcher will likely be coming via draft, not via trade. A sensible solution for the long-term future in Carolina.

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