4 ways Deshaun Watson would transform the Carolina Panthers

Raising expectations

Things became more than a little stagnant for the Carolina Panthers in the final two seasons of Ron Rivera’s reign, which eventually led to his firing. A fresh start in 2020 under Matt Rhule brought little in the way of expectations and it’s clear that the team’s loyal fanbase is getting sick and tired of not having a winning franchise to support.

Expectations have been at an all-time low.

However, there was light at the end of the tunnel with a young and exciting roster this season.

If Deshaun Watson ended up in Carolina, it would raise expectations to a level not seen since the 2015 campaign where the Panthers won the NFC Championship before faltering against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

Much will obviously depend on what players go the other way if the Houston Texans eventually start accepting trade offers. But if the Panthers can keep their core intact, dead cap sacrifices to a minimum, and still have some draft capital left over, it is going to help them enormously.

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This would be a franchise-altering move that comes with a “Super Bowl or bust” label, of that there is little doubt. But there is nothing to suggest Watson can bring the glory days back to Carolina – as long as the right sort of pieces can be put around him.