5 things on Marty Hurney’s to-do list during the bye week
By Dean Jones
What should be on Marty Hurney’s to-do list during the Carolina Panthers’ bye week?
Although there have been some signs of life regarding the Carolina Panthers in 2020, they remain in a precarious position at the bye week. Nothing much was expected of this current group, but the fact things could look much better from a record perspective had they not collapsed late in games makes it even more frustrating than it would have been otherwise.
As the old saying goes, it’s the hope that kills you.
The Carolina Panthers get a much-needed break with just four games remaining, which will be a time for reflection, improvement, and in Marty Hurney’s case, forward planning. The general manager is looking for a contract extension of his own, so making solid preparations ahead of a pivotal offseason period in 2021 would be a strong bargaining tool to have in his bid to convince owner David Tepper that he is worthy of sticking around.
Let’s take a look at five things that should be on Hurney’s to-do list during Carolina’s bye week.
No. 1
Scout quarterback prospects
The jury is still out regarding Teddy Bridgewater‘s ability to be the long-term starter in Carolina. His level of production has been as expected coming in – which is the first time he’s started more than five games since 2015 – but whether the former first-round pick can take them to the next level remains to be seen.
It would be foolish of Hurney and the Panthers not to at least explore the possibility of taking a signal-caller early in the 2021 NFL Draft. They do have other needs elsewhere that should take priority. But if Bridgewater continues to regress following the bye week, it might force the organization’s hand.
The Panthers won’t be in a position to take Clemson sensation Trevor Lawrence. However, the likes of Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, and Trey Lance might be in play if Carolina gets another high-end pick as projected.