New NFL Rumors Reveal Key Panthers Defender Received Permission to Seek Trade

As the Carolina Panthers look to add cap space heading into the start of free agency, defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson is reportedly on the trade block.

Per The Athletic's Joseph Person, the Panthers have given Robinson permission to seek a trade with one year remaining on his current contract.

The Panthers are currently projected to have just $12.6 million in cap space. They don't have impending free agents who would be described as irreplaceable. Rico Dowdle is probably their highest-profile player set to hit the market.

However, the lack of cap space right now does limit the potential outside additions the Panthers might want to make. The defensive line help seems like an area of the roster they will want to focus on.

Carolina finished tied for 28th in sacks (30), ranked 24th in pass-rush win rate and last in run-stop win rate, per ESPN.com.

Trading Robinson would seem antithetical to addressing the Panthers' needs. He had an 8.3 percent pressure rate from the interior last season, but his age and contract status don't suggest there's a lot of long-term upside remaining.

Robinson will turn 31 on March 21, so he's still young enough that the Panthers might be able to bring back a decent mid-round draft pick in a trade. He is only making $7.6 million in base salary next season.

A trade or release of Robinson will save the Panthers $10.5 million against the 2026 salary cap. He recorded a career-high 5.5 sacks with Carolina during the 2024 season and has recorded eight quarterback hits in each of the past two years.