Why the Carolina Panthers should sign quarterback Alex Smith

The Carolina Panthers will trade current backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and should consider signing Alex Smith as a backup for Sam Darnold.

Sam Darnold is going to be the starter for the Carolina Panthers in 2021, this much we know. Who will be sitting behind him is still very much a question and the primary backup quarterback remains an underrated position that teams often overlook.

Quarterback injuries are going to happen. When they do, who you have behind them determines whether or not they can keep a team afloat. Nick Foles is an example in the extreme. Backing up Carson Wentz, the veteran went on an amazing run to lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl.

Backing up Tom Brady gave Jimmy Garoppolo a chance to keep some positive momentum going with the New England Patriots at the start of the 2016 season and wound up earning him a record contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

Simply put, who the Panthers have sitting behind their starter matters. Currently, the backup quarterback options beyond Teddy Bridgewater would be Will Grier or P.J. Walker. Both of whom came in and threw interception after interception during limited action over the last two years.

Neither are capable backups. Carolina should move away from Grier and Walker has shown enough to remain a third option who can assist on special packages if needed.

Carolina Panthers should give Alex Smith a call.

The Panthers need to go after one of the top two backup quarterbacks remaining. Alex Smith and Blake Bortles both remain free agents. But the former No. 1 overall selection could still be offered a starting job despite the likelihood he will be offered his pick of mentorships.

Bringing in Smith with Darnold would be a dream move for a team that badly needs stability in their quarterback room when Bridgewater leaves. He is mature, a leader, and has had experience with an up-and-down NFL career.

Just like Darnold, Smith’s career got off to an indifferent start before teaming with San Francisco and the Kansas City Chiefs. Bringing in Smith to mentor Carolina’s recent acquisition from the New York Jets is a perfect choice for an organization that wants to give the USC product every possible advantage.

Signing Smith is something the Carolina front office should be aggressive about, even though it would be admittedly a long shot. As a mentor, he is going to be a highly sought-after commodity. And there is still the chance a team could view him as a potential stop-gap starter, similar to how the Washington Football Team brought in Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The other solid option on the table would be signing former Jacksonville Jaguars starter Blake Bortles. While much maligned, he has had some solid seasons and would be a far better option than Grier or Walker.

Regardless of which move Carolina makes, they need to add to their quarterback room when they lose a true professional in Bridgewater after he failed to make the most out of another starting opportunity.