4 signs that suggest Panthers QB Sam Darnold might be a lost cause

Sam Darnold has shown almost nothing in four years

The Carolina Panthers may have treated Sam Darnold as a rookie in 2021 given his age and the fact he spent the first three years of his career on the New York Jets. However, another failed attempt at redemption now means the quarterback has produced almost nothing in four seasons and if the tipping point hasn’t been reached, it is fast approaching.

There will come a time when the Panthers are out of excuses for Darnold. A player who came into the league with a relatively high ceiling before becoming well on track to being one of the biggest draft busts in recent memory.

Darnold looked like a man devoid of any real confidence down the stretch. It won’t take long to figure out whether he is past the point of no return when he takes the practice field later this spring.

The reason Darnold gets so much leeway is that there are times when he does look the part. His arm strength is right where it needs to be and this is matched by a surprising ability to generate significant yards on the ground when called upon.

It takes much more than brief flashes to become a productive NFL quarterback. All Darnold can do now is wait and watch what the Panthers do next and hope that he gets another opportunity to prove his doubters wrong – but that is absolutely no guarantee whatsoever.