What if the Carolina Panthers don’t land Deshaun Watson?

What happens if the Carolina Panthers lose out in their long-standing pursuit of Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson?

It’s clear as day that the Carolina Panthers have had their sights set on Deshaun Watson for over a year now. The Houston Texans quarterback is among the best players at the position anywhere in the league and even with all the baggage that now comes with him, team owner David Tepper has remained steadfast that this is the guy who can lead the organization back to relevance.

Now that Watson won’t be facing any criminal charges relating to some serious sexual misconduct allegations. Although there are still civil suits that could lead to an NFL suspension, the Panthers and others have now made their move and according to multiple reports, will meet with the Clemson product in the not-too-distant future in an attempt to seal the deal.

Watson has the power and can choose where he wants to go due to a no-trade clause. So if the Panthers do get a meeting, they have to nail it as it’s their only chance at securing a player they’ve coveted from the moment speculation surrounding his future emerged.

However, the New Orleans Saints are threatening to throw a significant spanner in the works with an offer of their own. With Tom Brady now returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers one month after retiring, if Carolina misses out on Watson it would result in a critical blow to their hopes of making strides in 2022.

All hope would not be lost for the Panthers, obviously.

But missing out on Watson would undoubtedly set them back.

There is a real urgency for Carolina to win now after three successive five-win seasons. Matt Rhule remains the head coach on what is apparently a very short leash, which might put Watson off unless some promises are made that bring hope for the future.

Carolina Panthers need a contingency plan if Deshaun Watson doesn’t come

This is a franchise-altering few days ahead. And in all honesty, it could literally go either way.

Carolina has to have a contingency plan in place. Whether that’s Jimmy Garoppolo or Derek Carr remains to be seen, but one veteran is no longer an option after Kirk Cousins agreed yet another fully guaranteed extension with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Panthers could also go down the draft route. But it’s unlikely either Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett will start right away, and selecting a college prospect is not exactly what Tepper envisaged heading into Year 3 of Rhule’s tenure.

This is a typical all-in situation. Pushing all your chips into the middle in pursuit of someone that has the potential to shift the landscape in Carolina.

However, this always comes with some risk.

Only time will tell, obviously. But this is a situation the Panthers brought on themselves with a series of flawed quarterback moves that have left Rhule right on the brink.

One thing that can be said is that Tepper normally gets what he wants in business and in football. He is also willing to do whatever it takes.

The billionaire won’t want to emerge from this situation with an egg on his face, even though that is entirely possible. But after months of rumors, we are now in the endgame and the ramifications will be substantial one way or another.

Buckle up, it’s going to be a wild week.