Less than a year after believing he could be the top option in the passing attack, the Carolina Panthers are trying to trade wide receiver Terrace Marshall. A second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Marshall had a disastrous rookie season but showed some signs of life in Year 2. Coming alive in the second half of his sophomore season, the wideout finished the year with 28 receptions for 490 yards and one touchdown for an impressive 17.5 yards per reception.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t replicate his success in 2023. With D.J. Moore in Chicago and a new quarterback in Bryce Young, Marshall finished the season with just 19 receptions for 139 yards and no touchdowns. With roster cuts upcoming, Joseph Person of The Athletic believes the Panthers will try and trade Terrace Marshall before Tuesday’s deadline for roster cuts. While he probably won’t generate too much interest, the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens could give him a shot.
Chargers, Ravens Could Trade For Terrace Marshall
The Los Angeles Chargers need all the help they can get at the wide receiver position. With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams out of town, the Chargers passing game rests upon the shoulder of second-round pick Ladd McConkey and 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston. McConkey has potential and Johnston has reportedly impressed recently in training camp, but we all know that preseason performances don’t always translate to the regular season. Terrace Marshall himself is proof of this phenomenon, but that shouldn’t stop the Chargers from executing a trade.
Even if McConkey and Johnston both work out in 2024, Los Angeles still needs more receiver depth if they want to keep up with the Kansas City Chiefs. Justin Herbert is incredible, but he’s not Patrick Mahomes, and the Chiefs have the better team even without accounting for the quarterback. Terrace Marshall won’t be enough to close the gap, but the trade candidate fits well in this offense. He plays a similar style of football to Mike Williams, so he shouldn’t take too long to establish a rapport with Herbert. With no other notable receivers outside of journeyman Josh Palmer, Los Angeles could take a low-risk, medium-reward gamble on the LSU product.
Ravens Adding Depth
The Baltimore Ravens don’t have a superstar wide receiver, but they have several players capable of playing a role in a competent passing attack. Mark Andrews is one of the NFL’s best receiving tight ends, Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are solid possession receivers, and Nelson Agholor and fourth-round rookie DeVontez Walker can stretch the field. What they don’t have, however, is a player capable of winning in contested catch situations on the outside. Terrace Marshall theoretically provides this ability, which could justify a trade.
Nobody expects Terrace Marshall to magically turn into peak Dez Bryant with an MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson. However, he could compete for a depth role on an otherwise-complete offense. Baltimore has the misfortune of playing in a loaded AFC, which means they’ll need to go through the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals if they want to make the Super Bowl. Terrace Marshall alone won’t power the team to a championship, but the trade target might be the player who provides one or two big catches in a pivotal moment.
Main Photo: Gregory Fisher – USA Today Sports
