5 best player options if the Carolina Panthers stay at No. 8

Which best players available could the Carolina Panthers possibly target if they decide to stay at No. 8 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft?

There is plenty of speculation swirling as to just what the Carolina Panthers are going to do in the 2021 NFL Draft. The organization has picked up some nice pieces in free agency that should be able to make an immediate impression. However, some glaring holes still need to be filled if Matt Rhule’s men want to seriously enter the postseason discussion next time around.

Much of the rumors are stemming from the quarterback position. Carolina has made no secret of its desire to get an upgrade on Teddy Bridgewater and although they remain keen on landing Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans in a bombshell trade, the player’s current civil suits that seem to be rising by the day are going to make things very difficult, to put it mildly.

If the Watson dream doesn’t come to fruition, then going the draft route is the best way to go. Winning at the Washington Football Team in Week 16 has complicated matters significantly, meaning the Panthers will probably need to move up in order to select their prospect of interest.

Carolina Panthers will have to pay for a trade-up.

This won’t come cheap considering how the organization has already shown their cards regarding the position. But there is a very real possibility that the top-four signal-callers will be gone in the first four picks the way things are going.

Simply put, the Panthers need to put a package together with the Miami Dolphins at No. 3 or miss out entirely. If they decide to stand pat with the eighth selection, it might be a case of general manager Scott Fitterer getting his wish and going with the best player available.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at five potential prospects that might be in play for the Panthers if they choose to stay at their allocated draft position.