The Carolina Panthers are one of the teams that are going to be on the lookout for a quarterback this off-season. They have tried to fill that void with the 2019 draft class the last two seasons but things have not gone according to plan.
Sam Darnold started off strongly in 2021 before reverting to the turnover-prone ways he showed with the New York Jets. It was Baker Mayfield’s turn to show what he had in 2022, but he didn’t even make it through the season with the team as he was benched twice and eventually released.
Currently owning the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Panthers may not be in a position to land one of this year’s top prospects at the quarterback position. There are three teams ahead of them that will be looking into selecting a signal caller and there is seemingly always one surprise trade that results in a quarterback being selected.
Carolina, in theory, could be the team making that trade up the board. If they really like one of the prospects during the pre-draft process, they could attempt to build a package strong enough to move up the board.
If ownership wants to get really aggressive, the Panthers could jump into the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes. Given the current state of the NFC South, making an upgrade of that caliber to the quarterback position could give Carolina the upper hand in the divisional race, especially since the quarterback situations in the entire division are currently unsettled.
The Green Bay Packers are reportedly seeking two first-round picks in exchange for Rodgers, which is a hefty price tag. Not only will a team surrender draft capital, but his contract is gigantic unless he restructures it.
That likely isn’t a price that the Panthers can or even should be willing to pay. While they played better under interim head coach Steve Wilks after Matt Rhule was fired, they likely aren’t instant contenders even with an addition such as Rodgers.
But, they can make a pretty competitive offer. The No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft can be included along with No. 62 and 143 this year and a second-round pick in 2024. The 62nd and 143rd pick in this year’s draft is via the San Francisco 49ers from the Christian McCaffrey trade.
The Panthers are certainly an unlikely landing spot for Rodgers, but the front office and ownership should look down every avenue to address their quarterback needs. If the price drops or his market is quieter than anticipated, Carolina could pounce.
