Carolina Panthers did not tender P.J. Walker
It's all changed at the quarterback position where the Carolina Panthers are concerned. Sam Darnold signed for the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year deal and the last remaining veteran from Matt Rhule's reign of terror is also out after those in power didn't place a tender on restricted free-agent P.J. Walker.
Walker was solid if not spectacular during his time under center in Carolina. There were some memorable highlights - most notably his sensational deep touchdown to D.J. Moore at the Atlanta Falcons - but the deficiencies were evident and moving on was a pretty easy call to make all things considered.
The former XFL MVP candidate wasn't out of work for long, signing a two-year deal with the Chicago Bears to reunite immediately with Moore. Walker will serve as Justin Fields' backup heading into a crucial Year 3 for the player, which is a nice security blanket for the NFC North team to have in the event injury strikes.
Carolina is embarking on a new era with a rookie quarterback at No. 1 overall. They've also secured a veteran bridge and mentor we'll discuss in depth next, so it wasn't hard to see Walker's services were no longer required.
Grade: A
Nobody will wish Walker anything but the best. The signal-caller's time with the Panthers reignited his career prospects, even if he couldn't ever become the team's long-term option.