Is Carolina Panthers WR Steve Smith on trade block?
September 27, 2010 by ericschmidt
Filed under Carolina Panthers, Latest News, NFC, NFC South
Let’s face it, at 0-3 the Carolina Panthers aren’t going anywhere this season, so is Panthers WR Steve Smith on the trade block? After three games, the Panthers fleet footed wide receiver only has 11 catches, and with the Panthers starting Jimmy Clausen at quarterback, the prospects for a big year for the wideout are pretty grim. Carolina has committed to a rebuilding program and John Fox is in the final year of his contract, so why not move Smith since there will most likely be a new coaching regime in Carolina next season.
Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer seems to think that the Panthers ought to trade Smith this season and get whatever they can for him. I tend to agree. Smith obviously can still play, but according to Sorensen, Smith is very unhappy where he is at this point in his career and it’s obviously that he could be much more useful someplace else.
Where would that someplace else be? Two very obvious choices come to mind right away. Minnesota and Washington. The trade deadline is approaching on October 19th. I don’t know how much interest Minnesota would have in Smith. Frankly, I think Brett Favre won’t play through the rest of the season and I believe the interest the Vikings had in Vincent Jackson was to get a receiver for Favre to throw to this season.
The better fit between the two teams is with the Washington Redskins. Smith has two years remaining on his contract, he is only 31, and obviously is still a terrific receiver. Outside of Santana Moss, the Redskins do not have a legitimate threat at another reviver position.
It makes sense for the Panthers organization to trade the veteran and get some value for next years draft, the way it’s shaping up, the Panthers might very well be picking in the top 5 of the draft.
I agree the panthers should trade Smith but I think San Diego could be a prime destination for him