Carolina Panthers must pay some of Sam Darnold’s salary
Whether the Carolina Panthers can find a trade partner for Sam Darnold is highly debatable. The quarterback has evident flaws when it comes to processing, footwork, and decision-making that haven’t gotten any better stemming from his college days at USC – and as the old saying goes, the film doesn’t lie.
Even if they do somehow find a team willing to take a significant problem off Carolina’s hands, there is absolutely no chance they will do so while paying all of Darnold’s fully guaranteed $18.85 million in 2022.
Eating a large part of Darnold’s contract would be the only way to go. Something the Panthers also had to do last year as part of Teddy Bridgewater’s trade to the Denver Broncos.
Just how much Carolina would be willing to sacrifice from their cap to get Darnold off the books and perhaps acquire a low-end draft pick in return is unclear. One suspects it might have to be a lot.
Darnold just hasn’t proven capable of becoming a productive NFL starter as yet. Fans have seen enough and based on the Panthers’ actions in the trade market so far without luck, influential figures within the organization probably think the same.
Something has to be done. Whatever decisions the Panthers make before competitive action begins are going to come with significant implications not only for their fortunes next season but also for the quarterback they placed a tremendous amount of faith in this time last year.