5 ambitious goals for the Carolina Panthers 2022 offseason period
By Noah Bryce
Carolina Panthers find a franchise QB
This is probably the most obvious goal for any team in the NFL except for maybe the Indianapolis Colts thanks to Jonathan Taylor and something the Carolina Panthers attempted during the last offseason with lackluster results.
Sam Darnold is not that guy and the Panthers have even been interested in a change if recent reports are to be believed.
Insiders indicated that the team had been in talks about a potential trade for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. While the player has been selected to the Pro Bowl in two of the last three seasons, there is nothing in his resume to say that he would be any better than Darnold in the same situation.
To be honest, trading for an aging veteran at this point would be less than ideal as there are so many other pieces that need to be fixed before this team can even begin to think about chasing a title. Overpaying for a player like Cousins, Aaron Rodgers, or Deshaun Watson would cripple the team’s future in a way that would make it incredibly difficult to compete.
However, if any of these players should become available the Panthers would be stupid not to make that deal in a heartbeat. Quarterbacks win championships in today’s NFL, just ask the Los Angeles Rams, and what could be more ambitious than trading for one of the top players in the league.
That said, a young player like Baker Mayfield for instance is the perfect candidate for the Panthers to try and strike a home run deal for. A player coming off a disappointing season with a disgruntled fanbase that could force ownership into a knee-jerk reaction they come to regret.
The only other option to find that player is through the draft. However, there are no real candidates for the Panthers to take as all would need some time to develop and learn behind a bridge starter and that is not something the team possesses.
If the Panthers want to turn things around they must be calling every team that even has a hint of letting their quarterback go this offseason. Waiting for the 2023 draft to get one of the top college quarterbacks might just be a year too far for owner David Tepper.
Does general manager Scott Fiterrer have the gambling mentality to go for broke on another quarterback trade only a year removed from trading for Darnold? Only time will tell.