5 shocking trades the Panthers should consider before 2021 season

Gardner Minshew – QB

Considering the Carolina Panthers put all their chips into the middle for quarterback Sam Darnold this offseason, trading for another signal-caller probably isn’t high on their list of priorities.

However, there doesn’t appear a great amount of confidence in P.J. Walker or Will Grier providing viable production if Darnold either misses time or simply falls flat on his face.

If the Panthers are looking for a better alternative before the 2021 season gets underway, then Gardner Minshew might be a wildcard who could fill a need. The quarterback did have some nice moments under center for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but as soon as they locked up the No. 1 overall pick, his future with the organization was all-but over.

Selecting Trevor Lawrence was a no-brainer for the Jaguars, with the former Clemson sensation entering the league as arguably the best prospect in a generation. Minshew is now relegated to a backup role with little chance of gaining meaningful reps, so he’d probably welcome a change of scene now he has some solid production behind him.

Starting opportunities are at a premium in the NFL at this time of year. Nobody will know that more than Minshew, but if he can secure a trade to a team with a little more quarterback uncertainty, it’s something he could take advantage of.

Carolina is going to give Darnold every chance to make a better go of things in a different environment. Only time will tell as to whether the Panthers come to the conclusion they need a better contingency plan.