4 painful realities the Carolina Panthers must face in 2022 and beyond
By Dean Jones
What painful realities must the Carolina Panthers face after their indifferent 2022 season so far?
The Carolina Panthers are slowly trending upward after such a disappointing start. There needs to be more consistency in terms of results, but the introduction of interim head coach Steve Wilks seems to be reinstalling the culture that made this franchise so successful during the 2010s and is being embraced by fans as a further seal of approval.
There is a lot of hard work ahead to reach their goals. Carolina could pick up a couple more wins between now and when the 2022 campaign concludes, which would enhance Wilks’ chances of winning the job outright despite plenty of candidates warranting consideration outside the organization.
It’s been a rollercoaster of instability this season. Something the team’s long-suffering fanbase projected before the campaign and even though things are improving gradually, the upcoming offseason could be among the most important in franchise history after so much turmoil.
With that being said, here are four painful realities facing the Panthers in 2022 and beyond.
Painful Reality No. 1
Carolina Panthers need to make further sacrifices
Trading Christian McCaffrey and Robbie Anderson before the deadline was a necessary evil for the Carolina Panthers. Something that gives them additional draft capital and financial wiggle room for any new head coach coming into the fold.
With that being said, those in power still need to make additional sacrifices in 2023. The likes of Shaq Thompson could be a prime trade candidate in the final year of his deal, especially considering Carolina is currently $3.44 million over the cap according to Spotrac.
It’s not ideal. But this is the plight Carolina faces during what could be a long road back to relevancy.