6 realistic options for the Carolina Panthers to solve QB crisis in 2022
By Brian Emory
Carolina Panthers give Sam Darnold one more chance
After a promising first month of the 2021 campaign, it did not take long for Sam Darnold to revert back to being a quarterback known for committing countless turnovers. To make matters worse for the Carolina Panthers, his fifth-year option was exercised last summer, so he’s on the books for nearly $19 million dollars next season.
This is an exorbitant price to pay for a player that has never shown he can consistently be a reliable starting quarterback. Carolina could try to find a trading partner for Darnold this offseason, but it’s tough to imagine the market will be very hot for the signal-caller’s services considering the price tag.
On the season, Darnold is currently completing 58.3 percent of his passes. The USC product has 2,176 yards through the air while accounting for 12 combined touchdowns and 12 turnovers on the season.
If Matt Rhule does indeed get a third year, that also most likely means Darnold will also return in some capacity. If this is the way things unfold, Carolina is going to have to bring in someone else to challenge him for the job.
While Darnold’s number against the cap in 2022 looks uglier with each week at this point, the Panthers are projected to have approximately $29 million in salary-cap space this offseason. This number is far from being one of the league’s strongest, but it does give the team some flexibility if they want to pursue other options.
However, the Panthers have plenty of important free agents to re-sign and other areas to strengthen. So this might see Darnold back for one last opportunity in 2022.