4 reasons the Panthers must retool, not rebuild after Matt Rhule’s firing
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers could adopt the Vikings’ model
If the Carolina Panthers are looking for a stable model, then examining how the Minnesota Vikings approached things this offseason would be a good place to start.
Ownership opted to fire both Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman in one swoop after missing the postseason in 2021. But rather than tear everything down, the new regime retooled its roster with limited resources and is currently reaping the rewards.
Some sacrifices were made to comply with the salary cap. Minnesota also made one or two bold trades during the draft to acquire additional capital in the hope of improving depth at key positions.
They now find themselves at 4-1 to start the campaign under Kevin O’Connell and boast renewed hope for the future. It’s not perfect – not by any stretch of the imagination – but keeping faith with some established figures rather than trading or releasing them has been a wise move to date.
Of course, the Panthers don’t have a stable presence such as Kirk Cousins under center, which complicates matters. But that’s not to say tweaking things wouldn’t have a similar impact on their short-term aspirations.
Carolina might have other ideas. However, what’s currently transpiring in Minnesota represents a good measuring stick for the organization.