Terrace Marshall might not be a Carolina Panther for much longer.
The third-year wide receiver has received permission to seek a trade, a league source confirmed to The Charlotte Observer on Thursday. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN first reported the news.
Per Fowler’s report, Carolina (0-6) discussed the possibility with Marshall’s agent, who told the team Marshall is looking for a more prominent role in the offense, and that Marshall will be welcomed back to the team if no trade is made.
This isn’t the most surprising news to emerge about the 2021 second-round pick out of LSU, who has 16 catches for 114 yards on the year. The 23-year-old receiver has seen his playing time fluctuate a bunch this season.
Against the Vikings in Week 4, for instance, he played 45 offensive snaps (62%) and led his team in receptions that week with nine catches.
The following week against the Lions, he didn’t play at all — a confusing revelation that disappointed head coach Frank Reich and Marshall himself.
“I have no clue why I didn’t play,” Marshall told The Charlotte Observer the day after the Lions game.
He later added, “It was surprising. I didn’t expect to sit out the whole game. It just happened.”
Reich accepted blame for the mix-up, saying he “wish(ed) he had gotten in there some. That was my fault.” Marshall notched 22 snaps on offense in Week 6 against the Dolphins, an improvement from the week before but still comfortably in a reserve role.
He is considered the fourth- or fifth-string receiver in the room, depending on how you classify receiver/running back/returner Laviska Shenault.
Those guys in front of him: Adam Thielen (who’s having a career year), DJ Chark, rookie Jonathan Mingo and Shenault (who suffered an ankle injury against the Dolphins).
WHERE COULD TERRACE MARSHALL LAND? Marshall’s decision to seek a trade is neither a demand nor a guarantee — no matter how nice a Day 3 draft pick (fourth- or fifth-rounder) would be for the Panthers. But the news still prompts the question: Where might Marshall go? There are a few teams in the market for a reserve receiver who could conceivably use the 6-foot-2, 200-pound pass catcher.
One is the Kansas City Chiefs. To say the Super Bowl contender needs a face-lift to their passing game would be hearsay — quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce are each working toward greatest-of-all-time distinctions at their positions — but the team does need some help at receiver. The Chiefs admitted as much when they acquired Mecole Hardman from the Jets earlier this week.
Another could be the New York Jets. The Jets just lightened their load in the receiving corps and might be able to get Marshall for cheap.
New York’s receiver room is top heavy — with Garrett Wilson as promising a young talent as there is, complemented by veterans Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb — but it lacks depth.
A final team could potentially be the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have been reportedly in the mix of wide receiver trade talks, being connected to wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Marquez Callaway this month.
They also recently added veteran wideout Juwann Winfree, a practice squad guy who was elevated to the 53-man roster on Tuesday ahead of their Week 7 matchup against the Browns. Mike Kaye contributed reporting.
