Why Panthers' Dave Canales Comes Out of Trade Deadline a Big Loser

The Panthers didn't make any trades, so Dave Canales is going to have to figure some things out.

by Bryce Lazenby

Nov 10, 2026

The Panthers didn't make any trades, so Dave Canales is going to have to figure some things out.

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The 2026 NFL trade deadline has come and gone. We saw several big names get moved over the last month, like Jeffery Simons, Quenton Nelson, and Jordan Davis, among others.

One team that was expected to make a move or two is the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are on a cold streak, having fallen to two games below .500, and have several glaring holes on the roster.

The thing is, the NFC South is very winnable, so it seemed like the Panthers would try to make a marginal improvement or two. There are also some players on the roster, like Ja’Tavion Sanders, who it seemed like could be of interest to other teams.

Nonetheless, the Panthers stood pat, and seem content rolling with this squad. If there’s one person who has to be uncomfortable now, it’s head coach Dave Canales.

Pressure is Now On Canales

Oct 25, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales looks on before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

As mentioned above, the Panthers are two games under .500, and the only thing saving them is the division they play in.

We don’t know for sure that Canales is even on the hot seat, but it seems like he is. After all, the head coach fired two assistant coaches already, which is typically something that’s done when the front office wants changes.

Canales also has just a 16-26 overall record as head coach of the Panthers. The division is very winnable, so if the Panthers fail to win it and finish below .500, it wouldn’t be crazy to see a drastic move.

The problem is, the Panthers made no improvements, so Canales’ job will hinge on players getting healthy and/or improving over the stretch run. The coach’s job would have been a little easier if he had a starting-caliber defensive back or offensive lineman added today.

Instead, Canales is going to have to make do what with what he has. It will be interesting to see if the coach can turn this team around and make another run at the division.