Why Justin Fields is making the Carolina Panthers front office look foolish

Why do the Carolina Panthers look foolish?

Jaycee Horn is going to be a real force. The cornerback looked like a shutdown player in the making before breaking his foot, but when it comes down to positional importance, the Carolina Panthers should have focused their attention on the most important one of all.

This was a major gamble by the Panthers to move forward with Sam Darnold. Letting a potential franchise quarterback slip by in a quarterback class that was rich with immediate starters.

Considering how well the defense is performing even without Horn, the decision becomes even more glaring and one has to wonder just what Carolina saw on film when it came to Darnold.

The “we can turn him around” narrative is tired. Plus, there was just no telling where Darnold’s confidence was after a torrid three years at MetLife Stadium before the trade.

This all comes down to evaluation. The Panthers whiffed by releasing Cam Newton in favor of Teddy Bridgewater and their bold decision to trade for Darnold – passing on Fields – is somehow worse.

It’s time for those at the top of the food chain to be held accountable. This is going to be another season of underachievement and languishing in mediocrity, which is casting further doubts about just how much longer the team’s long-suffering fanbase will have to wait to cheer winning football once again.

Fields looks like a star. Someone who is giving the Chicago Bears reasons for optimism moving forward despite things looking bleak right now.

In contrast, morale is at an all-time low with Carolina’s support, who are getting pretty sick and tired of constant failings in the front office regarding quarterback movement.

Whatever methods the Panthers are using to evaluate talent under center, it needs to change.

Otherwise, the Panthers are going to get so far.