3 Panthers position groups that must step up at the Giants in Week 7
Carolina Panthers QB
It seems déjà vu strikes again.
Last week, I talked about which version of Sam Darnold will make an appearance, and it was not the answer I was hoping for.
The honeymoon period is over, yet I still hear people talking about Darnold as if he is a rookie. Let’s normalize referring to him, and setting our expectations of him, as a fourth-year professional.
Rookies are expected to make mistakes. With the average expectancy of an NFL athlete being only 3-3.5 years, the former New York Jet is considered a veteran.
The Carolina Panthers need to see some consistency strung together from quarters to halves of games. Darnold had his fifth-year option picked up on his rookie contract which will pay him just under $19 million in 2022.
His play has not warranted being the 15th highest-paid quarterback next season.
There are still 10 games left to change that narrative. It needs to start against the lowly New York Giants to help build and foster his confidence.
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Not much beats a Sunday afternoon football game in October. Both teams are trending in the wrong direction and looking to pivot. Whoever wins the turnover battle, commits fewer penalties, and controls the clock will come away victorious and Darnold obviously plays a huge part in that.