Panthers trade for Sam Darnold in 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers trade for Sam Darnold
The Carolina Panthers select their potential franchise quarterback of the future by trading for Sam Darnold, parting ways with the No. 40 overall selection in 2021 and a fourth-rounder next year. This might be enough to tempt the New York Jets in this scenario, with Robert Saleh using their first-rounder on BYU sensation Zach Wilson.
This works for all parties. It gives Darnold a fresh start and plenty of options available, provides the Panthers with a different option that has little financial commitment attached to him, and the Jets have a couple more picks to aid with their rebuilding process.
If the Panthers choose to go in this particular direction, they have to be convinced that Darnold can finally live up to his billing entering the league.
Another wrong move at the quarterback position would leave them back at square one and although they could cut ties with him in 2022 with nothing in the way of compensation coming his way, it wouldn’t inspire the greatest confidence in the current regime from a recruitment standpoint.
Whether the Jets want more for Darnold despite their clear desire to move on from the former No. 3 overall selection is up for debate. But giving up one pick this year could still allow Carolina to build around the signal-caller and maybe even have enough money to extend both Taylor Moton and Curtis Samuel.