4 things new Panthers GM Scott Fitterer should already know
By Dean Jones
New general manager Scott Fitterer hasn’t been part of the Carolina Panthers long, but there are some things he should already know.
The Carolina Panthers made a bold move to bring in Scott Fitterer as their new general manager. It was a whirlwind interview process that saw the former VP of player personnel with the Seattle Seahawks hired within a few days of his first discussions with owner David Tepper and head coach Matt Rhule, which is a positive sign that all influential parties are on the same page.
It’s going to be a baptism of fire for Fitterer this offseason, to put it mildly. The Panthers have a number of big decisions they need to make in a bid to improve their fortunes and not a lot of money to work with – at least initially – due to the salary-cap coming down thanks to COVID-19 revenue losses.
This is something that teams have been aware of for some time now.
Even though it isn’t any easier to stomach.
Fitterer has built up a solid reputation for finding some gems late in the NFL Draft, which will be essential in new surroundings this spring. There is also the small matter of clearly looking for an upgrade at quarterback and the 25 current players who are out of contract needing to resolve their respective futures.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at four things that Fitterer should already know after his first few weeks on the job.
Number 1
Targets of interest in the 2021 NFL Draft
The Panthers got a good heads-up on potential college recruits thanks to their participation in the 2021 Senior Bowl. This was an invaluable experience – especially with COVID-19 making things look far different during the evaluation process this year – so Fitterer and Rhule are sure to have formed some sort of initial plan following the week in Mobile, Alabama.
Fitterer made no secret of his desire to try and get more picks in a bid to help Carolina in the short and long-term. There is also the prospect of moving up for someone they really like should the opportunity arise. So it is a critical situation and one the Panthers must get right.
Getting a good look at the likes of Mac Jones, Deonte Brown, Kadarius Toney, and Dillon Radunz won’t have hurt their preparations for draft weekend. But just what they’re going to do is another matter entirely.