After losing out on the Deshaun Watson-sweepstakes, the Panthers have maintained that they still intend to add another quarterback to the roster, according to Nick Shook of NFL.com. In a press conference covered by Shook and Joseph Person of The Athletic, general manager Scott Fitterer laid out the team’s plans moving forward.
Answering the obvious question, quarterbacks Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker are still under contract and will be afforded every opportunity to earn the starting job moving forward. The issue there lies in the fact that they’ve already been given such an opportunity and the question of future quarterback is still being asked as a result. Fitterer did inform reporters that head coach Matt Rhule had talked with a free agent signing from last year, Cam Newton. On the matter, Fitterer said, “The thing with Cam, it’s gotta be a fit for us and it’s gotta be a fit for him, just as well. He’s looking for a certain opportunity. The door’s still open for us.”
The free agent quarterback market really cleared out after Watson’s trade to Cleveland. There are still some NFL-experienced options in the trade market, though. As of now, Fitterer asserts that they haven’t heard from San Francisco or Cleveland about Jimmy Garoppolo or Baker Mayfield. Since phones tend to have the ability to both send AND receive calls, it stands to reason that the Panthers not reaching out to initiate conversations over the available quarterbacks is a reflection of their level of interest. Still, Fitterer claims that they are open to receiving calls from the 49ers or Browns. They do have the luxury of waiting, possibly even until after the Draft, as there doesn’t seem to be any urgent interest in Garoppolo or Mayfield.
The most likely path, and the one most desired by Fitterer, is through the 2022 NFL Draft. Rhule and Fitterer were in attendance for Kenny Pickett’s pro day workout at Pitt and Malik Willis’ workout at Liberty. Rhule went to Mississippi’s pro day to watch Matt Corral. The only reason they didn’t go the Cincinnati to watch Desmond Ridder is because they already worked extensively with the Bearcat quarterback at the Senior Bowl and Combine. They still sent a scout and two personnel executives, though.
Suffice it to say that the Panthers have made it extremely clear that they are taking a good look at this year’s quarterback class. With the sixth pick in the first round of the Draft, Carolina could very likely take a quarterback and very well may the first team to do so, giving them their pick of the litter.
Fitterer preached a philosophy of building a team around a young quarterback on a reasonably low contract, like the Seahawks did with Russell Wilson during Fitterer’s tenure in Seattle. The only issue with this philosophy is that Rhule’s seat is getting hotter with each loss. He may not feel he has the leash to develop a young quarterback surrounded by veterans. If Rhule feels like he’s in a win-now scenario, he may push for the team to trade for one of the more proven assets like Garoppolo or Mayfield.
The route that ends up getting taken in Carolina will likely say a lot about the alignment of Rhule and Fitterer, who arrived one year after the head coach. If the team makes a move to trade for a league veteran, Fitterer likely wants to give Rhule the tools to keep his job. If the teams sits pat and waits until the Draft to address the position, it could be assumed that Fitterer is willing to let Rhule test his luck in order to build a team around his own philosophy.
I get baker isn’t great but good lord is he night and day better than the entire QB room in Carolina.
I’m guessing they’re tanking for a QB in 23
unless they plan on reaching for Malik at 6 (big reach) , there’s plenty of QBs in this draft round 2
question is, are any of Pickett, Ridder, Corral, or Howell better than Darnold & PJ?
The answer is yes. all of them.. the next question is are any of them more worth it than trading a 2nd for Jimmy G .. the answer is probably no, so i think Jimmy G ends up in Carolina on draft day
I was with you until you said that there’s a definitive “yes” to those guys being better than the current QB room in Carolina.
The only thing that we know definitively is that those guys will be younger with a lower standard for success because they will be fresh. Whether the actual production will end up being superior, either immediately or later on, we honestly don’t know. The appropriate question is whether that gamble is worth it. The answer could be yes, but it’s not exactly definitive.
you have an XFL QB and Sam negative value Darnold..
oh ya there’s also washed up QB who couldn’t even get the New England Patriots to the playoffs.
I’m fairly certain any of the top 5 QBs in this class would be an upgrade over them…
but that was just a side note to the main point which is…
they need to pay up for Jimmy G or a proven asset at QB (Phil Rivers even).. they are not rebuilding.. the time is now for Rhule and this roster.. they have weapons at various positions, and outside of QB , they have better a roster than New Orleans or Atlanta .
I see New Orleans headed towards a full rebuild mode with Payton no longer involved to make up for the lack of talent.
and Atlanta is already in the midst of a fire sale.
I agree mostly with you on the rest. I just don’t agree that it’s certain that any of these prospects will be any better in Carolina than who they currently have. It’s a risk. Darnold and Walker were once promising recruits as well. There’s no guarantee that any of those players will end up any better or that Carolina is in a position to get the most out of them. This class is especially iffy, even moreso than last year’s class, which was iffy.
I’m just saying that it isn’t certain that they’d even be a sure upgrade over the current quarterbacks today for a team that, as you said, needs to win now.
I still think this is the team that should nudge Philip Rivers
None of the QBs in the draft you mentioned are highly rated by anyone. Better than Darnold? No one knows that. But if they don’t get someone better than any of those guys, it won’t matter, cause they’ll go nowhere.
Darnold has never had a full season with a decent line and good weapons. If McCaffrey were healthy for a full season, I think the situation could be different.
Does Carolina even have a 2nd round pick? Thought they gave that up for Darnold?
They do not.
hmm ya they’re screwed then. looks like stuck with Darnold.
Really like Howell and Ridder in this draft fyi
Correct. I don’t know if they made any other moves, however. It may be best for Rhule to roll with Darnold because they’re both playing for their futures this year. Carolina should probably go for the best offensive player available at 6 because protection and weapons are most important to them right. One of the top offensive linemen like Ofenwu or Neal could be there. A healthy McCaffrey would make that team better.
Neal would be a great fit for them, as bare minimum they can run behind him
Please just trade the packers for Jordan love. Just do it. Give us a 2nd and 4th. Let us help rebuild our team up more
Lol, I think you can scratch the 2d.
They’re not trading him for a four. They might as well just keep him on his rookie deal.
Whether or not he’s good is irrelevant at this point. If someone wants him, they’re going to have to give up an actual asset.
Why would the Panthers trade for Baker?
They know he’s not amazing. They’d rather give Darnold another chance who they traded for not long ago.
By next season if they don’t like Darnold they can get Baker once he goes off contract or better that they can just draft in a better QB for cheaper.
Baker makes some sense going to Seattle cause he’s a big upgrade over Drew Lock, and Seattle may think it’s worth a shot seeing how good he is.
I think the Steelers makes a little sense and have Mitch and Baker compete. But why waste the cap space?
I think Texans makes some sense but again why give up something for him if your rebuilding. Your not trying to win your just trying to develop talent.
I thought the Saints would’ve made sense but they chose Winston and I think that speaks volumes too.
To me it’s really either Seahawks or Steelers
Because Baker is light years better than Darnold, by any metric you can come up with
Yeah now no doubt better but in reality with Darnold you get maybe idk 4 wins and with Baker get what 6 maybe.
So you’ll trade for him and pick up assets, Then come next season you have to give him a big contract if you want to keep him.
All for what 2 more wins….
They are better off not giving up anything, being bad for another season and drafting a QB that’ll be better than then both and cost way cheaper……. Pretty obvious
A healthy McCaffrey and upgraded offensive line would make any QB better.
They’re waiting to see status of Garappollo and will trade with 49ers when word is good re his shoulder.
Nah hard pass on that aswell.
Look at my reply above.
Jimmy again might make them better going from 4 wins to 6/7 wins but then he also needs a new deal and your still no confident he’s your franchise QB. Better off being bad another season, giving Darnold another shot and then dragging in someone actually good you want to build around
The only reason that runs counter to your argument is Rhule’s unstable footing. The current regime is likely on its way out (as most of us foresaw when that enormous contract was signed and after we got measure of Tepper’s tendencies), and it’s doubtful that developing a QB is on its mind. That’s not to say that any available QB is specifically the “right” QB for Carolina, it’s to say that any modicum of success is desirable to the coaching staff right now. Six wins with steady improvement and cleaner overall play gives Rhule a chance, where four wins absolutely would not.
Of course, there are two other things at play here: Carolina does have a very hands on owner who very well may have decided to can Rhule next year and will either instruct him to just go through the motions or just only approve moves that will long term capitol, and Scott Fitterer may not be tied to Rhule and may decide to build long term on his own. Or maybe Rhule would prefer to leave so much so that he would prefer a fireable season. In any of those cases, a four win season would be preferable. But if we assume that Rhule wants to win, or that Tepper won’t block his ability to do so for future gains, then I can’t see him picking a new rookie QB right now. Doing that would imply that he thinks that he has a chance to stay right now or that management wants to keep him as coach long term.
you need to learn how and when to use your and you’re desperately dude
Send AND receive calls… that’s my favorite point from this story
Carolina is smart to make CLE and SF sweat.
CLE, in particular, won’t be able to fill out their roster with decent players until they move Mayfield. Wait until they get desperate.
Also, is Carolina winning the NFC South next year? They should find a young QB, not a retread.
Well, Mayfield apparently has crossed Carolina off his list. Given the remaining contenders for him, I’m not sure why, unless he is banking on Seattle or Pittsburgh. Those possibly are better situations, but in much tougher divisions and there aren’t many other teams that would give him more than a low risk deal. For whatever it counts, Baker’s prove it personality may fit well with a coach on the hot seat. Throwing caution to the wind with no care towards outside expectations and nothing to lose has been his calling card, so maybe he would find that appropriate. I don’t know.
Scheme-wise, and offensively roster-wise, Seattle may be a best option, but Carolina has a bad team in Atlanta, an uncertain team in New Orleans, and only one really good team in Tampa that played a few too many close games with supposedly lesser teams. Baker’s list of suitors, rightfully or not, is shrinking, and Carolina should at least be a viable destination for him.
The Panthers should be checking actively on their end as well-if the price is right, there’s not much to lose, whether it’s in free agency (preferable) or a low cost trade (less preferable). Unless they have the belief that one of these QBs will be their answer and the patience and trust in whomever their staff is to develop him (because these guys almost certainly will need that), Baker is going to be a better option this year than most of what’s available.
When you are on your 4th or 5th QB plan this offseason it would seem you don’t have a plan at all. Talking to Cam Newton again (0-5 last season) just confirms that.
Thanks for the phones primer I’ve been using a damn mimeograph and it’s time to upgrade
There is no fit for Cam Newton. Dude thinks he’s still a high-level starter in the league.
1. Draft a QB
2. Trade Sam Darnold and his contract for Jimmy G or Baker Mayfield. Whoever is willing to take on that contract, even if means giving up a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick.
to be fair, NO QB had a chance in Carolina last year with that Offensive Line. too much interior pressure, usually within 2 seconds, Brady and Rodgers couldnt play with that. Fix the O Line and THEN address the QB position next year with a strong QB class.. if the Panthers just reach out of need they will always be subpar, TAKE THE BLUE CHIP LT and give your next QB a chance