3 reasons Deshaun Watson should sign-off on Panthers trade
By Dean Jones
Following in Cam Newton’s footsteps
It’s no secret how close Deshaun Watson is with Cam Newton. The former Carolina Panthers quarterback is someone he looked up to from his time in college at Clemson and the prospect of stepping into his shoes will be an enticing one, to put it mildly.
Although things ended on a sour note between Newton and the Panthers, his status as an iconic figure in franchise history is undisputed. The 2015 NFL MVP revolutionized the position and Carolina became a national media phenomenon as a result
Watson could take this to even greater heights if he eventually arrived in Carolina.
Newton is going to get another chance to prove his worth with the New England Patriots after signing a one-year extension that could be worth around $14 million with incentives. Panthers owner David Tepper also extended an olive branch to the signal-caller to come home and retire as a member of the organization one day, which might see bridges start to build back up after such a messy departure late in the free agency period last year.
If Watson takes on the responsibility of finishing what his role model started in Carolina to possibly secure a first-ever Super Bowl, then it should bring instant rewards.
This is a challenge that Teddy Bridgewater simply couldn’t live up to in difficult circumstances. But few would argue that the No. 12 overall selection in 2017 isn’t a substantial upgrade on the Panthers’ current option under center.