Both the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are jockeying for position in the NFC South through nine weeks.
The Buccaneers sit atop the division at 6-2, while the Panthers are right behind them in second place at 5-4. Knowing that, it's not illogical to think one or both teams could be active at the trade deadline on Tuesday.
However, CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones is pouring cold water on that notion for both teams. If anything, Jones thinks the Panthers will do something small.
"If you're waiting on snakes and sparklers around the league, you may prepare yourself for the pop-its in Carolina," Jones said. "I don't get the sense they'll do anything that is more than a late-round pick swap for a player if they do anything at all. The Panthers know they're building something, and I don't get the sense they are under any illusions they are one player away from a deep playoff run. They will want to keep legitimate capital to continue building through the draft."
As for the Buccaneers, Jones says there is no indication anything big is imminent.
"All is quiet with Tampa Bay," Jones said. "I wrote two weeks ago the Bucs like their receivers even with the injury to Mike Evans, and GM Jason Licht has a pretty good draft track record. I don't see him sending away any picks of consequence."
If we had to bet on one team to make a significant move, it would be the Bucs because Tampa Bay is better positioned to actually make some noise in the postseason, even with their injuries.
Mike Evans, Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin are all expected back at some point, so the Bucs just need to weather the storm. That should not be too difficult in what is one of the worst divisions in the NFL.
Despite their 5-4 record, we've seen the duality of the Panthers this season, who are pulling off upsets one week and getting blown out and embarrassed the next.
This isn't a team that is one or two moves away, so it would behoove general manager Dan Morgan to stand pat and keep his picks.
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