Tennessee traded up to No. 109 in the 2021 draft for receiver…
Tennessee traded up to No. 109 in the 2021 draft for receiver Dez Fitzpatrick, sending Carolina picks 126, 166 and 232. The Panthers used those selections on Chuba Hubbard, Keith Taylor and Phil Hoskins. Hubbard developed into a productive starting running back and earned a long-term extension, while Fitzpatrick made only a limited NFL impact. Carolina's move-down produced the clear long-term winner.
Carolina Panthers Received
- pick 2021 4th round pick (126th overall, Chuba Hubbard)
- pick 2021 5th round pick (166th overall, Keith Taylor)
- pick 2021 7th round pick (232nd overall, Phil Hoskins )
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick 2021 4th round pick (109th overall, Dez Fitzpatrick )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Tennessee sent picks 126, 166 and 232 to Carolina for pick 109 during the 2021 draft. The Titans selected Louisville receiver Dez Fitzpatrick. Carolina used the three incoming choices on running back Chuba Hubbard, cornerback Keith Taylor and defensive lineman Phil Hoskins, spreading the return across three position groups.
Why the Value Separated
Hubbard alone swings the transaction. He developed from a fourth-round pick into Carolina's primary runner, produced multiple seasons of meaningful offensive work and eventually earned a long-term extension through 2028. That is an excellent outcome from the first selection the Panthers received, before even counting the snaps supplied by Taylor and Hoskins.
How the Deal Aged
Tennessee's targeted move did not deliver the same payoff. Fitzpatrick struggled to establish a lasting role, which made the three-pick cost increasingly difficult to justify. Trade-ups for a specific prospect can be worthwhile when that player hits, but they concentrate risk. Carolina took the opposite approach, accepted more selections and only needed one of them to become a substantial contributor for the math to work.
Final Verdict
Carolina earns an A because the move-down created a long-term starting running back plus two additional roster pieces. Tennessee receives a D because the player it paid to secure did not produce enough to offset the surrendered volume. Hubbard's development and extension make the historical verdict especially clear: the Panthers turned patience on draft day into durable value. The result also illustrates how trading down can succeed when one of several added chances develops into a core starter.