5 ways the Panthers can best prepare for the future this offseason
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers cannot jeopardize future with another QB gamble
Another offseason, another potential search for a franchise quarterback.
The Carolina Panthers continue to faile miserably at properly evaluating quarterback talent at the professional level. Something that’s cost them a substantial amount of dead-cap money, draft picks, and obvious embarrassment about the way things have transpired.
Carolina felt pretty confident about Sam Darnold after giving up three selections over two years to land the USC product from the New York Jets. But the same problems in his game couldn’t be eradicated and the move was an absolute catastrophe that’s clearly set the team back.
Darnold’s fifth-year option with a guaranteed $18.85 million only complicates matters further. David Tepper is reportedly looking to land another big fish in the trade market, but the time has probably come to start looking at the long-term rather than a band-aid fix that may or may not work out.
Rolling with Darnold next season might not be the best thing for Matt Rhule given his job status, but risking it all for someone like Kirk Cousins or Jimmy Garoppolo rather than waiting until the 2023 NFL Draft class is a major gamble – one the Panthers cannot really afford after two huge misses.
Sitting through another year of Darnold would test the fanbase, too. Something else that needs considering due to how disillusioned many are with the way things are being run from top to bottom.