5 toughest matchups for Panthers QB Sam Darnold in 2021
By Dean Jones
What are the toughest tests facing quarterback Sam Darnold during his first season under center for the Carolina Panthers in 2021?
The stakes could not be higher for Sam Darnold in 2021. He goes into the campaign aiming to prove he was simply a product of his environment with the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers are confident that he can turn things around with an abundance of weapons in the passing game to call upon.
Carolina picked up Darnold‘s fifth-year option after deciding not to select a signal-caller in the NFL Draft. This means the former USC star gets two years to prove he can be the team’s quarterback long term, even though there isn’t much evidence to suggest this is possible.
It was clear the Panthers wanted to move on from Teddy Bridgewater no matter what this offseason. The veteran struggled to come through when it mattered most and was traded to the Denver Broncos for nothing more than a sixth-round pick shortly before the draft as a result.
That is all part of the business, which Darnold also experienced for the first time this spring. Here are the five toughest matchups facing the player as he looks to hit the ground running in Carolina next season.
Matchup No. 1
Sam Darnold at Arizona Cardinals
- Week 10 (November 14)
This is going to be a difficult one for Sam Darnold. The Arizona Cardinals boast a defense that has the potential to cause an endless amount of disruption despite losing Haason Reddick in free agency, so the quarterback will need his offensive line at the peak of their powers for what looks to be a challenging road game for the Carolina Panthers.
Chandler Jones and J.J. Watt have the potential to cause problems for opposing protection schemes on every snap. Couple this with two athletic linebackers in Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins and it’s not hard to see why this is going to be a stern test of Darnold’s credentials.
The signal-caller also needs to account for safety Budda Baker at all times given his ball-hawk ability on the backend. Things will also be loud inside State Farm Stadium with fans back in the stands, which is another big factor that should not be overlooked.