4 ambitious goals for Carolina Panthers QB Sam Darnold in 2021
By Dean Jones
What are some ambitious goals for Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold during a hugely important season for the player in 2021?
It won’t be much longer before we find out just what Sam Darnold can bring to the Carolina Panthers in a competitive setting. The quarterback is a little more than a week away from taking on his former team at Bank of America Stadium in the season opener, which is one of the more intriguing games on the Week 1 schedule across the league.
This is the perfect opportunity for Darnold to stamp his authority on proceedings. His trade from the New York Jets got a mixed reaction from the team’s fanbase, but the signal-caller has certainly looked the part on occasions throughout training camp and during preseason game reps.
The Panthers placed a significant amount of faith in Darnold this offseason. Not only did they part ways with three draft picks to acquire the USC product, but they also shipped Teddy Bridgewater to the Denver Broncos and passed on the chance to select Ohio State star Justin Fields at No. 8 overall.
Nobody knows what’s at stake more than Darnold himself.
He was largely ridiculed for his three years at MetLife Stadium. Although Darnold’s failure was largely down to inept coaching and a lack of talent around him, that’s not the case in Carolina and progression has to come as a result.
With this in mind, here are four ambitious goals Darnold can potentially aim for during his first campaign under center for the Panthers.