NFL Trade Rumors: Could Aaron Curry Land with Carolina Panthers at Deadline?

When the Seattle Seahawks selected Aaron Curry with the No. 4 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, they thought they were getting an absolute beast of a linebacker. He was considered the safest pick in a draft that included guys like Matthew Stafford, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews and Brian Orakpo.

Just three short years later and Curry has nearly played his way out of a job in Seattle. The Seahawks are reportedly willing to listen to offers for the Wake Forest product after he lost his starting job to rookie K.J. Wright in Week 3. Several teams are reported to have interest in Curry, but the Carolina Panthers have been decimated by injuries at the linebacker position and have the biggest need in that area.

In 34 career games, Curry has just 152 tackles, 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. Despite his immense athleticism he has never quite been able to put it all together at the NFL level. While he has drawn comparisons to other highly selected linebackers like Vernon Gholston, at least Curry has actually done something in his time on the field.

The Panthers have lost starting linebackers Thomas Davis (ACL) and Jon Beason (torn Achilles tendon) for the season and are in desperate need of depth in the middle of their defense. Carolina wouldn't likely have to part with much via trade to acquire Curry and is likely to be interested, according to Gaston Gazette writer Steve Reed.

The Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers are also potential landing spots for Curry, said Reed, but Carolina seems to make the most sense.

The Seahawks are eager sellers, and the Panthers need another linebacker, even if he is a project. You've got to think head coach Ron Rivera—a former linebacker and linebackers coach—would love to get his hands on someone as talented as Curry and prove he can make something of him.

I could easily see this deal going down before the NFL's Oct. 18 trade deadline, with a late-round draft pick heading from Carolina to Seattle in exchange for the former No. 4 overall pick.