Panthers: 4 opt-outs that would guarantee Trevor Lawrence in 2021
By Dean Jones
We picked out four Carolina Panthers who would guarantee that the team is able to draft Trevor Lawrence if they opted out next season.
There still appears to be plenty of uncertainty surrounding training camp and the NFL season despite league officials proceeding as planned. The Carolina Panthers will be impacted more than most if anything else changes. But the safety of players and staff is absolutely paramount.
Some prominent players across the league took to Twitter on Sunday to almost simultaneously voice their concern regarding current guidelines, or lack thereof, ahead of their return to training camp later this month. The Panthers and others across the league have already confirmed reduced capacity in stadiums. And it is clear that things are still hanging in the balance thanks to the current climate.
The NFL will also give players the opt-out option if they feel strongly about not playing due to safety concerns. This will be the last resort for those who need the money. But it is still a realistic option for those with a little more financial security.
Documents obtained by Pro Football Talk regarding the latest opt-out proposal from the NFL to the NFLPA stated than an “all-or-nothing” declaration must be made by August 1. And it would not become a breach of their contract providing the individual reports for team activities in 2021.
"“A player who opts out will have his contract toll for a full year. He will not receive his base salary or any other payments scheduled to be earned after the date of the opt out, and he will not earn a benefit credit or an accrued season. In 2021, his contract will be reinstated. If he “timely reports for all required activities” in 2021, the opt out will not become a breach of his 2020 contract, which “will not subject him to discipline or forfeiture, will not void any bonuses or guarantees or have any other adverse consequences beyond those set forth herein.”"
If certain members of the Panthers roster decided to opt-out, it would be nothing short of a disaster. New head coach Matt Rhule will be relying on certain players to get them through this period of transition. And any disruption to the depth chart is bound to have detrimental ramifications.
One plus in this particular scenario is that it might put Carolina in a position to take Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence in 2021. The signal-caller is expected to be gone in the first two picks. And if college football is moved to the spring, it appears unlikely he will play another down for the Tigers.
If there four players opted out for the Panthers in 2020, it would virtually guarantee them Lawrence next spring.