The Carolina Panthers spent the offseason improving their secondary, but their work might not be done yet. Despite re-signing cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, this unit still needs a reliable option in the slot, and Anthony Rizzuti of PanthersWire believes the team could trade for Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson. In a recent article, the analyst listed several potential trade targets and singled out the Lions veteran as a possible option.
“Robertson could also appeal as an option at the nickel spot,” Rizzuti writes. “The sixth-year veteran, who is expected to be ready for Week 1 after breaking his arm in the playoffs, is entering the final season of his contract and could face some competition from 2024 second-round pick Ennis Rakestraw Jr.”
Panthers, Lions Could Agree to Amik Robertson Trade
Head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan inherited a mess last year and couldn’t rebuild the entire team in one offseason. Knowing they needed to prioritize Bryce Young’s development, the team built the offensive line and added pass-catching weapons at the expense of the defense. Now with a strong offensive foundation in place, Carolina spent the past few months building an adequate defense.
Nobody will confuse the 2025 Carolina Panthers with the 1985 Chicago Bears, but the team has some pieces on the defensive side of the ball. Horn and Jackson are a solid cornerback duo, and free agent signee Tre’von Moehrig will help secure the secondary. The defensive line added free agent Tershawn Wharton and rookies Nic Scourton and Pincely Umanmielen to get after the quarterback and stop the run.
The last glaring weakness on this defense is the slot cornerback position, and they could address it with an Amik Robertson trade. Robertson is no All-Pro, but he finished the 2024 season with a decent 64.7 PFF grade, the 58th-best mark in the league out of 116 eligible players. He could help the Panthers, but will the Lions agree to a trade?
Will the Lions Deal Him?
As mentioned in Rizzuti’s article, Amik Robertson is in the final year of his contract, so perhaps the Lions are willing to trade him for a decent return. However, they’re probably not actively looking to move him at the moment. Detroit is in the midst of its Super Bowl window, and sending Robertson to another team will only decrease its odds of hoisting the Lombardi trophy in 2025. Even with Robertson on the roster, Detroit’s cornerback room leaves something to be desired, so it’s hard to envision the Lions actively weakening their roster.
Rizzuti mentions Ennis Rakestraw’s presence as a possible catalyst for an Amik Robertson trade. Unfortunately, the former second-round pick had a rough rookie season, hardly seeing the field while recording a subpar 42.8 PFF grade in limited action. Perhaps he can turn it around in Year 2, but Detroit won’t put too much faith in an untested asset like Rakestraw. Unless the Panthers dramatically overpay, Robertson will probably remain with the Detroit Lions.
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