The Carolina Panthers are alone at the bottom of the NFL standings following their Week 7 bye. The 0-6 squad heads into the annual NFL trade deadline (Oct. 31, 4 p.m.) with limited draft resources in 2024, and the front office should be looking to add to its haul for next offseason by trading away veteran players who aren’t in the team’s long-term plans. Those players on expiring contracts could possibly turn into draft picks that ultimately become long-term, cost-controlled contributors.

With the Panthers likely to spend heavily in free agency next offseason — Carolina is projected to have a substantial amount of salary cap space — they probably won’t be eligible for compensatory draft picks for their departing talent next offseason. So, getting long-term value for players who are likely to leave in free agency should be a priority, especially if they can garner a significant market. If the Panthers were to approach the trade deadline with that mindset, they’d have plenty to work with on the seller’s market. Here are seven notable Panthers players with contracts set to expire after this season: OLB BRIAN BURNS Burns and the Panthers have failed to agree on a contract extension as the Pro Bowl pass rusher continues to play on the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. The Panthers could (and likely will) use the franchise tag on Burns if a deal isn’t struck before the start of next offseason. Burns is having a solid but not spectacular start to 2023, and the Panthers could get impatient with negotiations as the trade deadline nears.

Burns is the Panthers’ lone golden ticket for premium value on the trade market, but it’s fair to wonder if trading him away for future assets is worth the risk. Burns is legitimately the Panthers’ best player, and if he can’t yield blockbuster value in a trade, the Panthers should simply play the franchise tag card next offseason. The Panthers have already traded away the likes of Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore, do they really want to trade away another premium player for a can of magic beans — no matter how notable said beans are? ILB FRANKIE LUVU Luvu is one of the few major standouts left on the Panthers’ defense following a rash of injuries in the first six weeks of the season. The veteran defender is a unique curveball to throw at opposing defenses, as he can get to the quarterback from multiple avenues. While he isn’t a traditional pass rusher, it’s hard to find a better natural blitzer at the inside linebacker position.

While the Panthers would be smart to re-sign Luvu to a contract extension, he could be a notable trade chip if a contender comes calling. Luvu will have a unique contract outlook because of his versatility and that could further complicate Burns’ situation if the team decides to hold onto both players. Luvu isn’t Haason Reddick, but one could argue he is one of the most important free-agent signings of the David Tepper era of ownership. Parting ways with Luvu through a trade would be tough to pill to swallow, as he is a fan-favorite within a season of limited goodwill.

DB Haason ReddickChinn recently suffered a quadriceps injury that will reportedly sideline him for more than a month. The timing of that ailment will hurt the Panthers on the field and within the trade market. While he has seen his playing time decrease throughout the year, Chinn is a notable chess piece for a defense that is routinely struggling with injuries.

Chinn has been used as a sub-package player within Ejiro Evero’s defense. However, a different scheme could choose to use Chinn at a more natural starting position like WILL linebacker or strong safety. With Chinn lacking in playing time, it’s easy to project him leaving in free agency in March. While the injury is a clear deterrent, a contender might look at Chinn has quality depth for an eventual playoff run. WR DJ CHARK The former Pro Bowl wideout has been a bit of a letdown performer in Carolina. After signing a one-year deal with the franchise this offseason, Chark got off to a stellar start during training camp, but he’s crashed a bit in the regular season after suffering a hamstring injury during the preseason. Through five games, Chark has caught 13 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns.

Chark has kind of fallen into the background as a weapon, as Young has favored fellow wideout Adam Thielen in the passing game. Chark hasn’t provided a consistent playmaking presence on the outside, and that failure has hurt the passing game early on this season. CB CJ HENDERSON The former first-round pick had his fifth-year option declined during the offseason. While he hasn’t been a consistent defender throughout his time in Carolina, he has played relatively well as of late. Henderson isn’t likely to be a long-term solution with the Panthers, so Carolina could look to get value for him now. Henderson probably won’t fetch much in return, but a contending team could see him as a swell short-term rental for postseason depth at a premium position. If the Panthers aren’t sold Henderson, now is the time to make a move. OLB JUSTIN HOUSTON Like Chark, Houston was a veteran signed to help a young team at a position of need. Houston had worked with head coach Frank Reich in Indianapolis, and he was signed midway through training camp. However, instead of providing consistent production, Houston has been largely forgettable through six game

The former sack leader has just a half-sack to his name to start the campaign. He’s also been out-shined by awkward scheme fit, Yetur Gross-Matos, during the first month and a half of the season. DE/OLB YETUR GROSS-MATOS It could be argued that Gross-Matos has been the most improved player on the entire defense this season. While he is still an odd fit for a 3-4 scheme, the coaching staff has moved Gross-Matos around to accommodate his playing strengths. If Gross-Matos can continue to improve this season, he might be in line for a long-term future with the Panthers. However, with the franchise looking to improve, the front office could try to take advantage of his early strides this season and swap him out for a late-round pick. THE REST … The Panthers have a few other contributors with interesting appeal on expiring contracts. Safety Sam Franklin, cornerback Troy Hill and wideout Laviska Shenault are set to become free agents in March. While they aren’t likely to yield trade interest, they could be players that the team looks to lock up with new deals ahead of free agency.