4 players the Carolina Panthers should have retained this offseason
By Dean Jones
Teddy Bridgewater – Former Carolina Panthers QB
There was plenty of criticism coming Teddy Bridgewater’s way in 2020. A torrid end to the campaign seemingly made up the minds of those in power, who made no secret of their desire to move on from the veteran after just one season under center.
Failed bids for Matthew Stafford and Deshaun Watson came and went. The Carolina Panthers eventually settled on Sam Darnold, sacrificing three draft selections to land the troubled signal-caller from the New York Jets.
The early signs were positive over the first three games. Things went downhill quickly after and the Panthers took the drastic but welcome decision to bring Cam Newton into the fold that shook the franchise to its foundations.
Bridgewater was shipped to the Denver Broncos for nothing more than a sixth-round pick and a dead-cap figure of $17 million.
However, the Darnold gamble hasn’t paid off. Had Carolina kept the former Louisville star around, it gave Carolina a chance to draft someone like Justin Fields as their long-term option with Bridgewater under center in 2021 until a first-round prospect was fully ready to go.
The Panthers’ record right now might be better than 5-7 had they stuck with Bridgewater. The quarterback’s comments about Joe Brady and Matt Rhule following his departure also hold more weight right now than they did at the time.
This situation is a complete mess. One that Carolina brought on themselves.