4 reasons the Panthers cannot risk it all for Deshaun Watson in 2022
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers don’t have the finances available
One other reason that might be going a little overlooked compared to everything else is the financial aspect of any potential Deshaun Watson trade. The Carolina Panthers have just $24 million in cap space this offseason, a ton of needs, and plenty of established veterans on the lookout for new deals.
We all know how the cap can be manipulated. But the Panthers have a substantial amount of work ahead of them in pursuit of keeping players happy and finding the right reinforcements in free agency.
Securing a signal-caller of Watson’s caliber is a tempting proposition if everything clears off the field. But the bumper contract he signed with the Houston Texans only complicates matters further if the Panthers are still willing to take the plunge.
Watson’s cap hits over the next four years are huge and something Carolina or another interested party will take into account during their assessment of this entire situation.
- 2022 – $40.4 million
- 2023 – $42.4 million
- 2024 – $37.4 million
- 2025 – $32 million
This is a pretty fluid situation and Watson’s court date is upcoming. However, the money just isn’t right for Carolina to make this sort of move whichever way his allegations go.
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Had they not picked up Sam Darnold’s fifth-year option, things might have been different. A situation the Panthers could have easily avoided.