Former top-4 pick should be on Panthers' radar as potential trade target

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young looks a lot better now than he did when his NFL career started in 2023. That said, the organization can't afford to wait forever for him to live up to his potential. If Young starts out the 2026 season having shown no real improvement over last year, they should go ahead and start exploring potential replacements.

San Francisco 49ers backup Mac Jones has been a popular connection for Carolina as a possible trade target, but another name is a more realistic option. CBS Sports has a new list of trade candidates around the league, and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is on it.

Carter Bahns writes:

There is no real market for his services, as evidenced by his remaining on the Indianapolis Colts' roster despite the team allowing him to seek a trade all the way back in February. As quarterback battles settle across the league and the need for backups increases over the next two months, though, perhaps Richardson will rise in value.

While Richardson hasn't exactly set the world on fire in 15 starts, his size and athleticism means he still has a very high ceiling. If he ever gets another chance to go back under center for a pro team, it may not come as a shock if he—especially with the resurgence of a number of quarterbacks in recent seasons—grows into a legitimate starter.

The main attraction with Richardson is his arm strength, which is as good as any's in the sport. He's also an excellent running weapon, with 634 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

If the Panthers feel they can fix Richardson's accuracy and progression issues, he'd definitely be worth a roll of the dice for a Day 3 pick. That's not an awful risk on a former fourth overall selection.

If nothing else, Richardson represents the opposite end of the athletic spectrum compared to Young. He has all the physical tools he needs to succeed, and that's something Carolina—given their current crop of backups—should be very interested in.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Former top-4 pick should be on Panthers' radar as potential trade target