4 bold predictions for the Carolina Panthers 2022 offseason
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers won’t acquire a new starting QB
After a turbulent first season for Sam Darnold following his trade from the New York Jets, the Carolina Panthers could be on the lookout for their third starting quarterback in as many offseasons. Not exactly a recipe for success and a real indictment of how this current regime is evaluating talent at the pro level.
Darnold started well enough before regressing considerably. It doesn’t appear as if major mechanical flaws and processing can be fixed, which is a blow to a coaching staff that had full belief in his capabilities to potentially turn things around.
No sooner had the 2021 season come to a conclusion, the rumor mill started swirling once again regarding a possible trade for Houston Texans signal-caller Deshaun Watson. However, the former Clemson star might not waive his no-trade clause to join Carolina and there are also his legal matters clouding any move at the present moment.
Couple this with the compensation Houston is demanding for Watson, and the Panthers face an impossible task. There is a very real chance those in power might take their chances with Darnold on his fifth-year option in 2022, strengthen other problem areas, and wait until 2023 to land their signal caller of the future.
That wouldn’t be the most popular move, one suspects. But the Panthers might not have any alternative when it’s all said and done.