Shortly after the Panthers’ trade for quarterback Sam Darnold was completed, it was reported that Carolina would pick up Darnold’s fifth-year option for 2022. After all, it wouldn’t make sense for the team to trade three draft picks for a young passer without giving that passer at least two seasons to show what he can do.
However, the club has not exercised the option just yet. As Joe Person of The Athletic points out, virtually no teams have made official decisions on the fifth-year options for their 2018 first-rounders (the deadline to do so is May 3). So it could simply be that the Panthers’ brass just hasn’t gotten around to it.
Or, it could mean that the club is waiting to see if a collegiate passer it likes falls to its No. 8 overall selection. According to Person, the Panthers are not in love with Trey Lance or Mac Jones, and it’s a foregone conclusion that Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson will be the first two players off the board. So if Ohio State signal-caller Justin Fields — who is said to “intrigue” the Carolina front office — is there for the taking at No. 8, perhaps he could be the pick, which could lead to Darnold having his fifth-year option declined.
A source tells Person that Darnold’s option is still expected to be exercised. And with the Panthers having emerged as a legitimate trade-down candidate, perhaps this is all part of a ploy to drive up the price of the No. 8 pick. A trade down the board would allow Carolina to recoup some much-needed draft capital while still putting the team in range for one of the draft’s top cornerbacks (according to Person, the Panthers are high on several first-round CB prospects). Although Oregon’s Penei Sewell will likely be gone by the time the Panthers are on the clock, another quality LT could be had at No. 8 or a little bit later if the team chooses to move down.
In addition to Darnold, Carolina also has another 2018 first-rounder, D.J. Moore, to make a fifth-year decision on. The Panthers will almost certainly exercise his option, which checks in at $11.116MM, so the team may need to part with Robby Anderson in 2022. Which means, as David Newton of ESPN.com writes, a wide receiver like Alabama’s DeVonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle could be in play. Either receiver would go a long way towards helping Darnold both this year and in the future.
Proof that most front offices are low on analysis & resort to man crushes to make their decisions. They are still talking QB when they should be trading down multiple times (completely out of the 1st round) to acquire many, many picks between the 2nd & 4th rounds. Almost every QB will suck unless you repair the roster.
It’s just misdirection.
Yes and Fields medical info may have spurred a fear he could drop a bit. It was revealed he has epilepsy. I’m sure he has it managed with medication, but I understand the fear of what concussions could do to him.
You need to figure out who your QB is before anything else. As a panthers fan I’m completely in line with this thought process. I would look in order to go Lawrence, fields, sewell,Pitts, chase, trade down in that order for #8
Fields is the only guy on that list with any realistic chance of falling to 8. My guess is that Carolina is hanging in there to see if Sewell somehow falls that far, and if he doesn’t, they’ll try to trade back.
If Carolina stays at 8 and drafts a quarterback, everyone in the front office should be fired before Day 2 of the draft.
Panthers trying to build as much value as possible for 8th pick for a trade. Take a developmental QB (Jamie Newman?) later in draft.
Carolina should trade back, acquire draft assets, as many as they can, and build the roster.
Id trade as far back into the 20s, say NE trades up from 15 to get Fields or Lance or trade it to GB who jumps up for Smith, Waddle, Pitts.
I’d take Kellen Mond or Davis Mills in the 3rd a a project QB..Both remind me of Dak given their skillset. Newman would be a good third option.
I agree 100%! Gotta see what Sammy Boy can do anyway!
As a Panthers and Wake Forest fan, I approve this message.
The Panthers pulled the trigger on the Darnold deal because they think he has more potential than the one or two leftovers from the almighty 5 QBs in this draft that might happen to fall to them at pick #8. They might trade back given the right trade capital, but I suspect they will pick one of the non-QB standouts in this draft.
Anderson isn’t under contract for 2022, but assuming the salary cap breaches $200 million, I wouldn’t be surprised if they re-sign him and sign an extension with Moore with a lower cap hit in 2022 than his 5th year option.