4 best and worst-case scenarios for Panthers QB Sam Darnold in 2021

Sam Darnold is just not that good

It’s easy to give Sam Darnold a pass from his stint with the New York Jets thanks to the lack of talent around him and a head coach in Adam Gase that was clearly out of his depth. However, the quarterback will not be afforded the same luxury this time around and there is every chance the player might not actually be as good as the Carolina Panthers hoped when they sacrificed three draft picks over the next two years to acquire him.

This would be nothing short of disastrous for their short and long-term objectives. If Darnold doesn’t show enough promises with improved weapons at his disposal, then the Panthers might be looking for their third starting signal-caller in as many years.

That’s not a good look for Matt Rhule, although much of the blame for Teddy Bridgewater’s arrival doesn’t necessarily sit with the head coach. The same cannot be said for Darnold, who the former Baylor man has gone to bat for throughout the offseason and is counting on him to repay this faith with solid production on the field.

Darnold doesn’t have to be that good, in all honesty.

Christian McCaffrey will shoulder a big workload providing he can put the injury problems of 2020 behind him, and there is more than enough talent in the passing game to ensure someone gets an open look on almost every down.

What comes next will ultimately be down to the player. But the ramifications of failure will be severe.