The Carolina Panthers made a major change at quarterback last offseason, moving on from Cam Newton to Teddy Bridgewater. It was a move that made some fans unhappy, especially with the way the franchise did it. With the Panthers holding the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, many believe that they could be targeting Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.
Matt Rhule and company were happy with what they saw from Bridgewater in his first season with the Panthers. Unfortunately, there were some major consistency issues.
Bridgewater would have a huge performance and then back it up with a game that consisted of a lot of turnovers. That is not going to get the job done. A quarterback with the talent of Fields would be very intriguing.
Draft Tek is one site that is currently projecting the Panthers to take Fields at No. 8. It certainly makes a ton of sense.
So, with all of that being said, why should the Panthers take Fields in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft?
Why Justin Fields Is The Perfect Fit For The Panthers
Quite simply, Fields would bring legitimate star potential to Carolina. Everyone knows that Bridgewater is a quality quarterback. Unfortunately, you know what you are going to get from him.
He is going to turn in some great performances, and then he will turn in some stinkers. That is simply the nature of the beast when it comes to Bridgewater.
Fields, on the other hand, showed off a terrific arm at Ohio State. In his two years with the Buckeyes, Fields threw for 5,179 yards, 62 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions. He possesses elite arm strength and good accuracy.
In addition to his arm, Fields is capable of making plays with his legs. He isn’t Lamar Jackson athletic, but he is going to be a dangerous dual-threat quarterback. Think more of Deshaun Watson.
Should Justin Fields develop into his full potential, the Panthers would be getting a long-term franchise quarterback that they can build around. What makes this pick even better is that they would not necessarily have to throw Fields to the wolves. Bridgewater could start for another season while Fields learns from the sideline.
Then, when the Panthers are ready to hand the keys to their young quarterback, they could trade Bridgewater. He would have one year left on his current deal, which would be attractive to other teams.
Expect the Panthers to strongly consider taking a quarterback with the No. 8 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. If Justin Fields falls to them with that pick, they should take him with no questions asked.
