Deshaun Watson still wants out, but will the Panthers go for broke?

Will the Carolina Panthers go all-in for Deshaun Watson?

The simple answer to this question is nobody outside of perhaps David Tepper, Matt Rhule, and Scott Fitterer knows for sure. This new regime seems pretty high on integrity within their players, but the Carolina Panthers have also shown willingness to give those with some character concerns the benefit of the doubt if they feel it will have a positive impact on the team.

There is no disputing Deshaun Watson’s talent. The player is a top-five quarterback in the league and might even be top-three with better weapons around him, something the Panthers would undoubtedly provide.

Although the goalposts may have moved regarding potential compensation in any possible trade, Carolina might need to part with multiple first-round draft selections to get themselves a sure-fire replacement for Cam Newton long-term.

Watson reporting for training camp to reiterate his trade demands brought this story back into the forefront of people’s minds.

However, the situation hasn’t really changed in the grand scheme of things.

Teams including the Panthers will be monitoring developments and reacting accordingly. But they’d have to be completely sure there aren’t any more skeletons in Watson’s closet if legal issues are resolved in a satisfactory manner.

This is a make-or-break move for Carolina that could turn them into serious playoff contenders. Watson seems keen to play somewhere other than Houston in 2021 and going for broke to acquire him would need to come with some cast-iron guarantees from the player’s perspective after everything that’s transpired of late.