What are some glaring problems awaiting the Carolina Panthers if they decide to move forward with Teddy Bridgewater on the roster in 2021?
There was a growing thought that the Carolina Panthers might be forced to go with Teddy Bridgewater as their starter once again. They failed to Matthew Stafford, there was little in the way of quality on the free-agent market, and the chances of landing one of the top college prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft was shrinking by the day.
Not exactly what the Panthers had in mind. This preparation period began with dreams of Deshaun Watson and ended with the team trading for Sam Darnold from the New York Jets.
Now there was every chance the former Louisville star could have gotten better in Year 2 with the team. The pass protection should be better – especially if Carolina somehow gets their hands on Penei Sewell – and there is also the small matter of Christian McCaffrey making a full return to health after turning out just three times in 2020.
But the arrival of Darnold leaves things looking bleak where Bridgewater is concerned.
Most fans saw enough of Bridgewater to know that he’ll only take the Panthers so far. His clear failure to get things done down the stretch played a significant role in Carolina going 5-11 for a second straight year and now Darnold is on the scene, it is highly unlikely the marquee free-agent signing last year is still around.
This is the position Carolina put itself in when they gave Bridgewater a three-year deal with no real out until 2020. But what are some glaring problems that would come with the player being on the roster by the time OTAs and training camp roll around?
Coaching staff confidence in Teddy Bridgewater
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Carolina Panthers don’t think much about Teddy Bridgewater getting them back into postseason contention at the earliest possible opportunity. Both Matt Rhule and Scott Fitterer commended the player’s response this offseason to the team’s desire for a better option. But it would certainly make for an awkward situation if the former first-round pick walked into training camp and OTAs following the acquisition of Sam Darnold.
Bridgewater knows full-well that the NFL is a business. So even though Carolina getting more competition for his spot probably hurts, taking it personally is simply not an option.
That being said, Carolina’s recent trade with the New York Jets indicates a lack of confidence in Bridgewater and this won’t have gone unnoticed by the player. Even if he is around next season, it’s apparent he won’t have things his own way and might be forced to hold a clipboard once again after just one season as a starter.
The Panthers could have easily given Bridgewater a vote of confidence following the campaign and not gone this route. Instead, they were aggressive in their approach to getting another signal-caller that result in Darnold joining as the Jets look set to move forward with Zach Wilson.
Putting Sam Darnold in a tough spot.
Teddy Bridgewater is pretty calm and collected most of the time. This didn’t transition into winning football with the signal-caller ending his first season in Carolina with a 4-11 record, so there is much work to be done if he’s given the benefit of the doubt despite the arrival of Sam Darnold, which appears unlikely at this juncture.
Having Bridgewater still on the roster with Darnold will only put unnecessary pressure on their recent acquisition. Carolina gave up three draft picks in the hope he can make a better go of things in a different environment. So having a proven veteran waiting in the wings rather than the likes of Will Grier and P.J. Walker could be more trouble than it’s worth.
Darnold needs the full security of knowing the job is his so that he can relax, adjust to a different offensive scheme and get on the same page with quality weapons he hasn’t had the luxury of utilizing before.
The last thing anybody needs at this juncture is more questions surrounding the position if Darnold takes a little time to acclimatize. Bridgewater is tough to move because of his three-year contract, but the Panthers should do everything they can to send him somewhere else.
Fan support
The Carolina Panthers have a loyal fanbase who follow the team through thick and thin, through the good times and the bad. They have had to put up with some awful football during their 26-year history and enjoyed plenty of good times along the way. But it’s clear that supporters are getting sick and tired of languishing in mediocrity.
Their patience has work thin over the last year, which is down in no small part to the team’s treatment of Cam Newton when he was shown the door at a time when there were few starting options available. This is a player that Carolina fans worshipped from the moment he arrived as the No. 1 overall selection in 2011 out of Auburn and Teddy Bridgewater’s lack of production when it mattered most only made things worse where this decision was concerned.
This offseason has seen plenty of frenzied excitement at the prospect of landing Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans or somebody with incredible talents such as Trey Lance or Justin Fields. Sam Darnold is a consolation prize to some, of that there is little doubt. But considering their thoughts on Bridgewater, they should give their new acquisition the chance to shine before passing judgment.
Not having fans in the stands due to COVID-19 was a blessing in disguise for Bridgewater. But this is a luxury he won’t enjoy next season if NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has his way and he may even be sitting on the sidelines to take it all in.
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A toxic atmosphere at Bank of America Stadium next season is not going to do anybody any favors. Bridgewater’s presence might complicate matters in that sense, which is why it’s probably best both parties went their separate ways.