The Carolina Panthers will release wide receiver Steve Smith on Thursday, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

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• Steve Smith Slot Receiver

On Wednesday, Smith's longtime representative Derrick Fox told The Associated Press that Smith 'is not going to play for the Panthers next year, I know that. I just don't know when that transaction is going to take place.'

He said the Panthers have not asked Smith, 34, to restructure his contract, which calls for him to make $7 million under this year's salary cap.

Steve Smith: Slot Machine. Davis Mattek July 28, 2013 Share on twitter. Wide Receiver Usage Deep Dive: Week 9 – Three’s Company in Carolina, Jakobi Meyers is Soaring Zachary Krueger November 10, 2020 Win the Dynasty Waiver Wire – Week 10 Curtis Patrick November 10, 2020.

Despite releasing the five-time Pro Bowler, the club will have to pay him $3 million this season as part of the three-year extension he signed in 2012. Smith's contract runs through 2016.

• Top Senior Bowl WR Sterling Shepard Uses Steve Smith As Inspiration Feb 05, 2016 at 03:15 AM. It would be premature to box him in as a slot receiver only.
• Stevonne Latrall Smith Sr. (born May 12, 1979) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Carolina Panthers, also playing for the ravens.He played college football for the Utah Utes, and was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft.
• Steven Smith (born May 6, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Southern California (USC), and earned All-American honors. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, St.
• Any offensive formation must have 7 players at the line of scrimmage. The 1st and 7th player are called 'Tight End' or 'Split End' if one lines up tight to their side's Tackle or split out. Note that Split End is pretty much a Wide Receiver lined up on the LOS. The Slot receiver positions himself in the 'slot' between the Tackle and Split End.

Also, Smith will count $5 million under this year's cap. The team could designate him for a June 1 release, which would allow it to split that money over the next two seasons.

Fox said Smith, a 13-year veteran, would have preferred to finish his career with Carolina, the team that drafted him in the third round in 2001. He said Smith was 'disappointed and surprised' when Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman talked about the receiver's future in uncertain terms at the NFL scouting combine last month.

'Where we are disappointed is the fact he signed an extension to stay loyal to the club and complete his career as a Panther,' Fox said. 'That is why we did the long-term team deal. Now we are at a crossroads where the Panthers don't want him anymore.'

Smith is Carolina's all-time leading receiver with 836 catches for 12,197 yards and 67 touchdowns. He is 19th all time in receiving yards and 25th in receptions.

He had 64 receptions for 746 yards and four touchdowns last season, helping the Panthers go 12-4 in the regular season and capture the NFC South title.

Fox said Smith plans to continue his playing career when the Panthers cut ties.

'At 34, they could have kept him and run him in the slot,' Fox said. 'Steve wants to play in the slot. But he can't play the slot with the current roster, and he hasn't been able to play in the slot with the rosters in the past.'

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

The New Orleans Saints have been the subject of trade rumors before the deadline, with All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas potentially on his way out. Amid a disastrous season for Thomas, don’t expect him to land elsewhere on Nov. 3.

Despite rumors that Thomas wants out of New Orleans and the organization isn’t pleased with his actions, the Saints will likely be quiet at the NFL trade deadline.

Saints rumors: Michael Thomas won’t be traded

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Saints aren’t making Thomas available to other NFL teams this season. Instead, New Orleans hopes he can return in Week 9 following a lengthy absence due to injuries and an off-field incident.

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Thomas, who broke the NFL’s single-season reception record in 2019 (149), hasn’t played since Week 1. He suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, causing him to miss three games.

On the verge of returning in Week 5, New Orleans suspended its No. 1 receiver after he punched a teammate the day before a game. While the violent act was the final straw before discipline, Thomas had reportedly caused problems for the coaching staff all summer and became difficult for the organization to manage.

Finally, after their Week 6 bye, the Saints hoped Thomas would be fully healthy and ready to play in Week 7. Instead, he suffered a hamstring injury and has now missed the team’s last two games.

It’s understandable why the Saints would be frustrated with Thomas. He has played in just one game, in which he hauled in just three receptions for 17 yards. Frankly, he’s been a bigger negative this year with just as many first downs (one) as punches thrown.

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Even if the Saints wanted to trade Thomas, their financial situation makes it an even bigger loss.

Steve Smith Slot Receiver

The NFL salary cap is expected to plummet in 2021 and the Saints are projected to be $87 million over the cap. Trading Thomas this year would result in a $20 million cap charge next season.

Ultimately, for a win-now team, keeping Thomas is the only logical move. He might cause more headaches along the way, but his impact when healthy is undeniable. Given how poorly the Saints have looked defensively, they can’t afford to trade offensive weapons.

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