5 big questions facing the Carolina Panthers at quarterback in 2021
By Dean Jones
How many QBs will the Carolina Panthers take onto the roster?
Matt Rhule was recently asked about the prospect of taking just two quarterbacks through onto their roster. This is an option worth considering at the very least considering there could be fewer COVID-19 complications next season with the team boasting one of the league’s highest vaccination rates.
The head coach did not rule out the possibility. This would make the battle between Will Grier and P.J. Walker even more urgent leading up to a final conclusion on just who’s going to make the 53-man roster.
Sam Darnold is the undisputed No. 1. But the quarterback has missed 10 games over the last three years and the Carolina Panthers need to be confident regarding any contingency plan in the event he’s forced to sit out over a 17-game campaign.
Cutting Grier this offseason would save the Panthers $850,000 and come with a dead-cap figure of $205,545. If Walker suffered this fate, the cost would be just $75,000 and a saving of $805,000.
This isn’t expected to play into the team’s thoughts considering how minimal these figures are in the grand scheme of things. Keeping three quarterbacks on the roster does seem like the smart move, especially with the Delta variant threatening to throw a significant spanner in the works.