The Carolina Panthers are projected to struggle in 2020 by an NFL Draft analyst, which puts them in a prime spot to land a top quarterback.
Not much is expected of the Carolina Panthers heading into next season. But an early 2021 NFL Mock Draft has them with the second-worst record in the league.
Charlie Campbell, a senior draft analyst at Walter Football, has the Panthers at No. 2 in the 2021 draft, which would enable them to take one of the top quarterback prospects available.
This way-too-early mock has Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields going to Carolina second overall, shortly behind Trevor Lawrence to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
If the Panthers do end up in this sort of position next spring, it is clear things did not work out as expected with Teddy Bridgewater. The free-agent signing will get another chance to become a prolonged NFL starter after recovering from a serious leg injury that threatened his career.
Bridgewater performed well with the New Orleans Saints last season, going unbeaten in Drew Brees’ absence. This resulted in the Panthers giving him a three-year, $63 million deal that included a $15 million signing bonus and $33 million guaranteed.
There is an out for Carolina regarding Bridgewater’s contract after the 2022 season, which would cost just $5 million in dead cap money if he is released. This represents a saving of $21 million.
Fields has been a revelation for the Buckeyes and another strong college season would see him as a lock to go within the first few picks next year.
What would Fields bring to the Panthers?
Simply put, there is nothing Justin Fields cannot do with the football. The prospect possesses some rare gifts that are sure to be a smash hit when he gets to the next level.
He transferred to Ohio State from Georgia after Dwayne Haskins headed to the NFL and hasn’t looked back. Fields completed 67.2 percent of his passes in 2019 on his way to 3,273 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just three interceptions.
The prospect also manages to make things happen in the running game. Fields has no problem tucking the ball and moving between the gaps if there is no receiver open. This makes him a dual-threat quarterback that is all the rage in the NFL currently and a threat that opposing defenses must take seriously on every down.
Fields’ ceiling couldn’t be higher after just one season as a starter. Hopefully, the Carolina Panthers are not in a position to take the player with a top-five pick. But if they are, he could transform the fortunes of the franchise.
The Panthers have invested a lot into their offense during free agency in the hope of turning around their 5-11 record. This will be easier said than done in the NFC South this term. But at least Carolina’s decision-makers have laid the foundations for success in the future.
This process would speed up considerably if they find themselves in a position to take Fields at No. 2 next year. The last time Carolina selected a quarterback in the top-five was when they selected a player by the name of Cam Newton with the first overall pick back in 2011.
If Fields goes on to have half the success Newton has achieved during his career, he is well worth a top-end draft selection next year. Only time will tell as to whether that will be the Panthers or another struggling franchise.