The Carolina Panthers patiently waited to finally get to use A.J. Bouye this season. Now, they could already be seeing him out of the same door he just walked into.
According to MMQB senior NFL reporter Albert Breer, Bouye has drawn trade interest with the Nov. 2 deadline approaching. The ninth-year cornerback is amongst a few names Breer mentions for secondary-needy teams, and the Panthers aren’t necessarily hanging up the phone.
“Defensive backs are always hard to come by, and Denver’s become the place to call. Veteran corner Kyle Fuller is available, and the Broncos will listen to offers on safety Kareem Jackson (though they’re not actively shopping him),” Breer writes.
“The Panthers’ A.J. Bouye is another name teams have discussed, though I’m told Carolina would need a really strong offer to consider parting with him.”
In serving as the team’s primary slot defender since his return, Bouye has played quite well over his four games with Carolina. Pro Football Focus currently has him graded at a 71.7 in coverage while crediting him with eight stops against the run.
Perhaps another return, of one Stephon Gilmore, could make Bouye a bit more dispensable for this defense. But his solid overall play and pedigree, in addition to the fact that the Panthers are trying to jump back into contention, shouldn’t make Bouye an easy steal for any team.
