P.J. Walker thinks he can start, trying to land No. 2 job for now

[WarPanthers89]

P.J. Walker “had a purpose” when he signed on to play quarterback for the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks and he realized it on Monday.

Walker’s goal was to get back into the NFL after a stint with the Colts and his play with Houston helped him land a contract with the Panthers. He said he also heard from the Seahawks and Cardinals, but the opportunity to reunite with his college coach Matt Rhule in Carolina swung things in the Panthers’ favor.

Walker told Joseph Person of TheAthletic.com that he think he can be a starter “with the right opportunity and the right system and everything,” but Teddy Bridgewater just joined the Panthers and that means he’s aiming a little lower at the outset.

“Right now I’m just going in there trying to compete for the No. 2 job behind Teddy and see what happens from there,” Walker said.

Walker’s bid for that job got a boost on Monday when the Panthers traded Kyle Allen to Washington. Walker’s familiarity with Rhule should also be a plus for his effort to land that backup job and position himself for a shot at something more down the road.
 

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/03/24/p-j-walker-thinks-he-can-start-trying-to-land-no-2-job-for-now/

 

[jfra78]

Its not unrealistic view by him.  One injury can change everything for any player.  From watching highlights he looks exciting to watch.

[Cuttinedge]

Throws a better deep ball than anyone on roster at this present time.

Grier is in jeopardy 

[Carl Spackler]

I hope he balls out, but watching his XFL highlights, a vast majority of those plays would never happen against NFL starters. Hell, one DL had a clear shot at him and ran away from him so Walker could lob a 20-yard duck for a big gain. Looked badass, but that’s an easy pick in this league.

I hope he has good accuracy that can show here too. But he has to do more than have a non-Will Grier name to earn the backup job, no different than Grier has to show improvement to earn it. And if he gets it by default, which is likely due to his coach, he’ll be the new hated QB if he comes in and sucks.

[Mr. Scot]

Every player should think they can start, whether they actually can or not.

[WarPanthers89]

1 minute ago, Mr. Scot said:

Every player should think they can start, whether they actually can or not.

True. As long as he is an improvement over Allen it was a great move especially with the returned 5th round pick. He does not have to do much to be an upgrade at the QB 2 spot, especially if he can hold onto the ball and not fumble.

[kungfoodude]

I think his potential is higher than Bridgewater. I would definitely not be against getting another long term starter from the dumpster pile(ala Jake Delhomme). 

[WarPanthers89]

Playing well in the XFL paid off for P.J. Walker.

Walker, the quarterback who started for the Houston Roughnecks before the XFL season was canceled, got a $150,000 signing bonus when he joined the Panthers this week, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

That’s a very good signing bonus for a player who wasn’t even on an NFL practice squad when the XFL came calling in October. Suffice to say, without his solid play in the XFL, he wouldn’t have been able to command that kind of signing bonus.

Based on published XFL salaries, Walker likely made a total of $46,575 for his time in the XFL. All players received a base salary of $27,040, and Walker would have received another $8,425 in playing bonuses for playing in five games, and then another $11,110 for winning all five games.

In Carolina, Walker will be reunited with Matt Rhule, his head coach at Temple. Rhule might have offered Walker a spot on the Panthers’ offseason roster even without his XFL performance, but Walker wouldn’t have been able to command that signing bonus without the XFL because he wouldn’t have had other teams bidding for his services.

Walker’s contract will be a good advertisement for the XFL when it tries to convince players to join the league for the 2021 season.

 

 

[MHS831]

This was our best free agent signing, if you ask me.  Factor in cost--this is a good deal for us.  I have to think this was Rhule and not Hurney

[kungfoodude]

2 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

This was our best free agent signing, if you ask me.  Factor in cost--this is a good deal for us.  I have to think this was Rhule and not Hurney

Boston was a fairly decent signing but he doesn't have the ability to make an impact like PJ Walker could potentially make. I think other than those two, the rest of the signings were mediocre to atrocious. 

Hopefully we can look back on this as the key signing that catapulted us into our next phase as a competitive team. It might be doubtful but the Walker signing is the first one we have made that actually has given me any potential glimmer of something to be hopeful about.

[MHS831]

1 minute ago, kungfoodude said:

Boston was a fairly decent signing but he doesn't have the ability to make an impact like PJ Walker could potentially make. I think other than those two, the rest of the signings were mediocre to atrocious. 

Hopefully we can look back on this as the key signing that catapulted us into our next phase as a competitive team. It might be doubtful but the Walker signing is the first one we have made that actually has given me any potential glimmer of something to be hopeful about.

And we are getting pumped by an XFL player---but we see the potential, how the position is evolving--and realize that he could be the answer.  Mobile, but more pocket passer than Cam was.  Quicker release.  Better deep ball.  He has the size of a Mayfield or Murray and many of the same characteristics.  He simply did not cost us a first round draft pick, so there is no risk whatsoever to give this guy a chance.

[kungfoodude]

2 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

And we are getting pumped by an XFL player---but we see the potential, how the position is evolving--and realize that he could be the answer.  Mobile, but more pocket passer than Cam was.  Quicker release.  Better deep ball.  He has the size of a Mayfield or Murray and many of the same characteristics.  He simply did not cost us a first round draft pick, so there is no risk whatsoever to give this guy a chance.

The big concern I have is his accuracy. Cam was a much, much, much, much, much more accurate passer than PJ was in college(although a much smaller sample size). However, he was very accurate in the XFL(65%). He definitely doesn't have the arm strength Cam does, so some of those throws I saw on his highlight reel from the XFL he won't be able to make in the NFL. 

We will see. He definitely looks like he has some talent. 

[Mister]

got to treat him like a college player , hes like a 1st rounder in mind even though he has been in the nfl he has never had a chance and he looked good in preseason .

[LinvilleGorge]

If you're not showing up to camp trying to win a starting job, just don't show up as far as I'm concerned. He very well could be a Bridgewater injury away from having the inside track to that job.