Which teams could be potential suitors if the Carolina Panthers decide to trade quarterback Sam Darnold during the offseason?
After an impressive start to life with the Carolina Panthers, things unraveled quickly for Sam Darnold. The quarterback regressed significantly from the moment Christian McCaffrey went down with a hamstring problem and his dismal showing in Week 9 against the New England Patriots might be the last time we see him under center.
Darnold is on the reserve/injured list and might be for the rest of the season. Couple this with Cam Newton’s sensational return and things look bleak at best regarding his long-term future.
The Panthers now have a problem on their hands with Darnold. One they brought on themselves by triggering his fifth-year option that comes with a guaranteed $18.85 million before he’d stepped foot onto the field.
Giving up three draft picks to the New York Jets was bad enough. But this is even worse and it’s going to take an incredible amount of maneuvering if Carolina decides to remove Darnold from the equation this offseason.
Carolina Panthers will find it difficult trading Sam Darnold this offseason.
One would think suitors would be slim. So the Panthers are going to have to eat the large majority of his salary in a similar fashion to what they did with Teddy Bridgewater one day before the 2021 NFL Draft when they shipped him to the Denver Broncos.
Another problem they’ll have is Darnold’s production, which makes it difficult to convince anybody he’s a viable starter. And teams won’t want a backup costing almost $19 million on their salary cap.
Difficult, but not impossible. Here are four teams that could become potential trade destinations for Darnold if the Panthers work a miracle.
Cincinnati Bengals
As stated previously, the chances of Sam Darnold walking into another team and becoming the undisputed starter are now over. The Carolina Panthers gave the quarterback the benefit of the doubt when they acquired him from the New York Jets, but the same problems remained and it’s highly unlikely someone else takes the same sort of risk.
Perhaps being a backup might be the best thing for Darnold. Taking him out of the firing line and allowing the signal-caller to build back confidence piece-by-piece is the only way he’s going to salvage his career at this juncture.
If the Panthers agree to take on most of his salary to make a move possible, then it might see a franchise part ways with a low-end draft pick to improve their backup option.
Somewhere like the Cincinnati Bengals might work.
They have one of the league’s brightest young quarterbacks in Joe Burrow. But only Brandon Allen is behind the former No. 1 overall selection if he falls to injury at any stage.
The Bengals also have some promising young weapons on offense led by stud wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and running back Joe Mixon. There wouldn’t be any pressure on Darnold to provide immediate production, all a team like Cincinnati would ask is that he’s ready to step in at a moment’s notice if the worst happened to Burrow.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have a big decision to make with Baker Mayfield this offseason. His fifth-year option was picked up by the organization, but whether they’ll offer him a huge extension based on indifferent production is another matter.
Mayfield looks fine as a game manager with Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb in the backfield. But things regress significantly when the running back tandem isn’t available and he’s forced to do more.
Case Keenum has proven a serviceable backup throughout his time in the league – even winning a playoff game under center for the Minnesota Vikings – but he might decide to take his chances elsewhere in free agency in favor of a situation that gives him an opportunity to compete for a starting job.
Cleveland needs another contingency plan in this eventuality. Especially with Mayfield’s long-term future in some doubt at the present time.
Acquiring Sam Darnold from the Carolina Panthers might be the last thing on their minds. Bringing in a high-profile name could also pile some unnecessary pressure on Mayfield in the process.
But in terms of the scheme, this is a good fit for Darnold if he ever saw the field.
There are two premier ball carriers in the backfield to lean on, which is a situation he’d appreciate if his first three games with Christian McCaffrey were any indication.
Pittsburgh Steelers
A changing of the guard could be taking place on the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason. There is some doubt as to whether 2021 will be the last one for Ben Roethlisberger, although his production so far this season hasn’t been the worst in the world by any stretch.
If Roethlisberger and the Steelers do go their separate ways this spring, it’s highly unlikely that either Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins is the long-term answer. They could attempt to land a coveted veteran – which won’t be cheap in the trade market – and the 2022 NFL Draft class doesn’t have many who could be Day 1 starters.
The Carolina Panthers would probably move Sam Darnold if the right opportunity came along. It’s convincing a team like the Steelers to pull the trigger that’s the tricky part.
Mike Tomlin is no fool. He’ll know Darnold’s flaws and might not be willing to take such a risk regardless of whether Roethlisberger stays or not.
This would be an ideal situation for Darnold. Even more so if Roethlisberger stays for another season.
However, there is a chance the perception across the league has gone from a victim of his environment to a lost cause where Darnold is concerned.
In truth, we won’t know for sure until the offseason. It’s also going to take a big financial sacrifice from the Panthers to get any deal over the line.
Los Angeles Chargers
A California homecoming for Sam Darnold would probably be a dream come true. The quarterback hails from Capistrano Beach, attended San Clemente High School, and stayed in the area in college at USC en route to becoming the No. 3 overall selection.
The bright lights of New York were too big for Darnold. And his time with the Carolina Panthers was bad enough that it forced the organization to re-sign Cam Newton in a bombshell move.
The Los Angeles Chargers have an elite signal-caller in Justin Herbert that looks to be the real deal. But providing the price is right then adding Darnold to a quarterback room that needs a better backup than Chase Daniel is a viable possibility.
Herbert would be under any threat from Darnold’s presence. Their careers seem to be on a completely different trajectory at the moment and although holding a clipboard all season isn’t ideal, the signal-caller might not have any other choice.
This has worked well for players in the past. Jameis Winston’s year on the bench for the New Orleans Saints resulted in a starting gig the year after, although his production far exceeded anything Darnold’s accomplished to date.
Being back in a warmer climate and familiar surroundings is something Darnold would welcome. Whether it’s a realistic possibility is another matter entirely.