As the Panthers prepare for Jonathon Brooks’ debut, it is not expected to affect their plans for Chuba Hubbard.
Carolina does not intend to trade the contract-year running back, according to ESPN.com’s David Newton.
Hubbard currently ranks fifth in the NFL in rushing yards (537) with an average of 5.2 yards per carry.
He has impressed since stepping in for Miles Sanders last season. However, Sanders is considered a trade candidate.
This offseason saw some notable contracts for running backs, providing optimism after a challenging 2023 for the position. Hubbard, 25, could benefit from this trend after showing good form on struggling teams.
The Panthers revamped their offensive line by investing in guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, which has helped Hubbard’s performance.
Last season, Hubbard gained 902 yards and started 12 games despite Sanders having secured the top running back contract in 2023. Although he averaged 3.8 yards per carry, Next Gen Stats placed him in the top 20 for rushing yards over expected.
The Panthers prioritized their run game this offseason, notably by trading up to the No. 46 pick to draft Brooks.
The Texas product, the first running back selected this year, has needed additional time to recover from an ACL tear in November 2023, which has worked to Hubbard’s advantage.
As a first-time free agent, Hubbard will join players like Najee Harris, Javonte Williams, and Khalil Herbert in next year’s market. Although other veterans will be available, the Oklahoma State alum is expected to attract interest.
With Brooks set to work alongside Hubbard soon, the Panthers are likely open to parting with certain veterans. Besides Sanders, the team may also consider trading Jonathan Mingo, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler.
The 2023 second-round pick has struggled to justify his draft selection, and a new Panthers regime, though still featuring assistant GM Dan Morgan from Mingo’s draft year, brought in Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette this offseason.
Mingo has made five starts and benefited from Andy Dalton’s improved passing game after Bryce Young was benched, yet he has managed only 12 receptions for 121 yards.
Although Johnson has attracted trade interest, the former Steeler stated (via Newton) that he does not want to be traded.
Offensive coordinator Dave Canales has also expressed that a trade involving Johnson is unlikely, though a strong offer could change the team’s plans.
The Panthers’ front office will need to consider trade offers against the potential value of a compensatory pick, which would not arrive until 2026.
The team could also explore re-signing Johnson before he hits free agency, though no extension talks are believed to be underway.
Teams expressed interest in Young after his benching in September, but the Panthers declined those inquiries.
There have been indications that the team might be ready to move on from the No. 1 overall pick in 2025.
If Young is not in the Panthers’ long-term plans, and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler suggests he still might not be, the team could explore a trade before the November 5 deadline.
However, Dalton’s recent thumb sprain, sustained in a car accident, will temporarily put Young back in the lineup, which could complicate trade plans.
Given the state of the Panthers’ rebuild, short-term situations are unlikely to alter the organization’s bigger-picture strategies.
Yet, moving on from a No. 1 pick this quickly would be historically unprecedented if the team trades Young before the deadline.
