5 emergency options if the Panthers lose Sam Darnold to injury in 2021
By Dean Jones
Nick Foles – Potential Sam Darnold replacement
As stated previously, if the Carolina Panthers are in the playoff hunt or progressing well, it might see them be a little bolder if Sam Darnold misses time through injury. Building momentum is absolutely crucial for the organization at this stage of Matt Rhule’s rebuild and their No. 1 option missing considerable time could dent this prospect an untold amount.
Nick Foles is facing a bleak future with the Chicago Bears following the team’s decisions this offseason. They picked up veteran Andy Dalton in free agency and made a daring move during the draft to get their hands on former Ohio State sensation Justin Fields as their potential franchise signal-caller of the future.
The Bears have a problem where Foles is concerned. This stems from the three-year, $24 million deal he signed in 2020 that came with an $8 million signing bonus and $21 million guaranteed.
Releasing the veteran would cost them $11.66 million in dead cap money, whereas trading Foles would actually represent a saving of $4 million in the grand scheme of things.
Providing there is an interested party before the trade deadline, this is the avenue they’ll probably go down. Even though the compensation would be minimal now teams know he is surplus to requirements.
If Darnold got injured, this is a solid if not spectacular option for the Panthers. Foles has already proven he can slot in at a moment’s notice, which famously came with a notable Super Bowl triumph with the Philadelphia Eagles.