Should the Carolina Panthers trade up for Justin Fields?
By Dean Jones
Would the Carolina Panthers consider moving up in the 2021 NFL Draft to secure the services of Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields?
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Carolina Panthers are looking to make a bold move to improve production from their starting quarterback this offseason. Teddy Bridgewater’s hit and miss campaign has forced the organization to start exploring other options and considering what they offered the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford, they are willing to do whatever it takes to get their upgrade.
Speculation remains regarding a bombshell trade for Deshaun Watson, which would cost an extortionate amount and alter the course of the Panthers all at once. But if this fails, then there is a genuine chance of Carolina using the No. 8 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft on a signal-caller of the future.
That might be easier said than done if projections come true.
Many expect the top-three prospects – Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Justin Fields – to be gone by the time Carolina is on the clock and the talent at the position drops significantly after that.
Taking a quarterback in the first round isn’t a guarantee for success. For every Patrick Mahomes, there is a Mitchell Trubisky taken earlier. So it can be a bit of a crapshoot that might set an organization back considerably if things go wrong.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rappaport, the Panthers are working hard on picking apart the top prospects with a view to possibly taking one in the first round. Much will depend on how the draft plays out in front of them, with trading up for someone with the intriguing skill set of Fields not entirely out of the question.