The Carolina Panthers face a tough choice before the November 10 deadline. They can keep underperforming star Robert Hunt or trade him to fix their money problems. According to Cat Crave, moving Hunt would solve a major financial headache but create a huge hole in the starting lineup. General manager Dan Morgan must decide if saving cash is worth losing a Pro Bowl player who is not playing like one right now.
The Money Problem Gets Worse
Hunt signed a massive five-year, $100 million deal in 2024 free agency. That contract looked great when he was forming a top guard tandem with Damien Lewis. The 2020 second-round pick counts $24.3 million against the salary cap. If the Panthers cut him, they still owe $10.3 million in dead money after restructured deals. Trading him now saves much more. ESPN beat reporter Mike Kaye noted that a trade involving Hunt would release $19 million in cap space for next year.
The offensive line is already a mess. Cat Crave points out that Carolina does not have enough depth to trade Hunt without making things worse. The team is somehow still leading the NFC South, but that lead could vanish fast if the line collapses. Hunt is being paid like a top-tier interior lineman. He is simply not playing like one anymore. A torn bicep last season dented his momentum, and he has not been the same player since. The excuse of playing next to rookie right tackle Monroe Freeling does not really hold up for a man on his contract.
What Other Teams Paid
Mike Kaye also pointed to recent trades for Cam Jurgens and Quenton Nelson as a reason to consider moving Hunt. Those players both warranted historic hauls in midseason swaps. Should the price be correct, it might be prudent to consider parting ways with the 2024 Pro Bowl lineman. But the Panthers are in a precarious situation. Having invested heavily to reach legitimate contention, their situation is not progressing as planned. You can blame the injuries, but every team gets them.
Removing Hunt from the equation would not be the smartest move regardless of how poorly he plays. His slump is alarming, yet the cost of losing him on the field might be higher than the cost of keeping him. Given his disappointing form, it is unlikely any team will offer a deal Morgan cannot refuse. The next game is Sunday, Nov. 8, 1 p.m. ET, when the Denver Broncos visit Bank of America Stadium.
