4 factors that make Carolina Panthers 2023 offseason the most important

Carolina Panthers must win back trust

Let’s look at the team next.

Decisions loom on beloved players such as Shaq Thompson. However, there is a clear top priority if we want to follow in the recent footsteps of historically embattled franchises such as the Cincinnati Bengals and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Those two teams drafted their franchise quarterback and developed the team around them. And it wasn’t without trial and error for them either.

Cincinnati required more than just Joe Burrow, although he undoubtedly is the biggest piece. They had to retool the offensive line completely, draft playmakers, and hired an offensive-minded coach to build around their investment. They also have an underappreciated defense.

Jacksonville is the only NFL team in history to hire a worse college coach than the Carolina Panthers. Urban Meyer made Trevor Lawrence look like Trevor Siemian. Realizing their woeful ways, the Jaguars discarded their mistake and hired Doug Pederson to come in and be a professional football coach.

Combined with a young, promising defense, an offensive-minded coach, and a handful of newly acquired weapons, Lawrence got the Jaguars to the playoff divisional round in only his second season under center.

Lastly, let’s consider the state of support. The fans love the team. I don’t feel as confident in saying they love the franchise, right now.

Losing isn’t a new obstacle to overcome for Carolina’s fanbase. The incompetence and embarrassment, unfortunately, are.

Fix the things you can fix, right away. Resolve the debacle over the turf field. Stay out of Rock Hill and stay away from bonds. Don’t even watch a James Bond movie.

The Panthers cannot expect to keep pace with the NFL’s frontrunners if they don’t start operating as one themselves. There are promising young players and teams all over the league right now, with the older collection of greats seemingly being gradually ushered out.

This is the window. It wouldn’t be a surprise to look back and say, in hindsight, that the array of decisions made this offseason were indeed the pivotal moments of this era in Carolina Panthers’ history.

Just get them right and trust will come back slowly.