The Carolina Panthers got what they believed was a good enough deal to trade away their most accomplished wide receiver. Adam Thielen gets the chance to go home to the Minnesota Vikings, while head coach Dave Canales is relying on his young wide receivers to make the improvements needed to flourish in the veteran's absence.
It's a fine margins situation that could go either way. Nobody associated with the Panthers wants to admit it, but this could go horribly wrong unless Carolina's youth movement handles the increased responsibilities coming their way.
This was a sentiment echoed by Jeff Howe from The Athletic, who graded the trade at B- from the Panthers' perspective.