Albert Breer on the Panthers quarterback options

[Mr. Scot]

Via his latest mailbag (link)

From Mike Liddle (@mliddle17): With the hiring of Ben McAdoo in Carolina, is there any chance, may it be slim, that Aaron Rodgers comes to the Panthers??? If not, is there a QB in the draft that fits McAdoo?

Mike, since McAdoo had Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers as quarterback as he worked his way up in Green Bay (i.e., Hall of Fame talents), and inherited Eli Manning in New York, it’s tough to get a great read on what exactly he wants at the position. But I do think having a smart guy at the position, given the volume his offense brings, would be a good place to start. That, to me, could put someone like Pitt’s Kenny Pickett in play.

The trouble the Panthers might run into with the high-end guys, like Rodgers, Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson, is the perception that head coach Matt Rhule will be fighting for his job next fall. Of those three, only Watson has a no-trade clause in his contract. But the reality is all three will be able to dictate their destination to a degree—no team is going to trade for one of them if it’s communicated that the player won’t play for that team.

And the fact that Carolina’s facing uncertainty going forward would have to be a big factor for any of them and why I think taking a shot at guy like Garoppolo might be more realistic for the Panthers in the end.

[Waldo]

So the norm. We could take the noodle armed QB, the good free agents wouldn't likely come here and we could always end up with Jimmy G even though the 49ers were asking a 1st for him.

[CanadianCat]

Ride or die with Darnold..

May Darnolds fate be tied to Rhules... 

[mrcompletely11]

3 minutes ago, CanadianCat said:

Ride or die with Darnold..

May Darnolds fate be tied to Rhules... 

as it should be. 

[Cdparr7]

Invest in the OL and give the keys to Darnold. Rhule doesn’t need to hand pick anymore QBs. Give Darnold protection and let Rhule’s job depend on it

[Waldo]

13 minutes ago, Cdparr7 said:

Invest in the OL and give the keys to Darnold. Rhule doesn’t need to hand pick anymore QBs. Give Darnold protection and let Rhule’s job depend on it

[LinvilleGorge]

Big splash vet, 1st round QB, or stick with Darnold should be the only three options. Enough with these third tier vet acquisitions. We've sank enough resources into them and the results are going to keep being the same. 

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Enough with these third tier vet acquisitions. We've sank enough resources into them and the results are going to keep being the same. 

I've got a feeling it's either that or Pickett.

[Ghostface Chilla]

Agreed with the above posts. We just have to stick with Darnold since we paid for him already, and just look forward to the 2023 draft class. I mean, we can't really go anywhere else but up... right....... RIGHT?! 

[ForJimmy]

6 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Big splash vet, 1st round QB, or stick with Darnold should be the only three options. Enough with these third tier vet acquisitions. We've sank enough resources into them and the results are going to keep being the same. 

I really don’t even want a big splash vet because I think Rhule will get screwed over on the trade like he has every trade he has made. Plus a big splash vet could save Rhule’s job and no one wants that. Darnold, FA cheap QB like Mitch or Mariotta or draft are the only options I want. 

[hepcat]

I think they’ll either try to get a mid tier vet FA QB or stick with Darnold. I don’t see them drafting Pickett. If they passed on Fields and Jones, why would they pick Pickett? He’s a lesser prospect than either of those guys. 

[Mike in Raleigh]

So, in essence, there aren't any good options. I think we knew that already.

[J.B.]

14 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

I really don’t even want a big splash vet because I think Rhule will get screwed over on the trade like he has every trade he has made. Plus a big splash vet could save Rhule’s job and no one wants that. Darnold, FA cheap QB like Mitch or Mariotta or draft are the only options I want. 

Big splash vet QB isn’t going to happen.

watson and Wilson have no trade clauses. Why would they, or any FA want to come here? And we don’t have the capital to pull of a big trade

Best case scenario is a one year rental of Garrapolo or stick with Darnold. We could trade back twice in the first and still pick in the teens. There will be a QB there if they want one. And we could draft quality interior lineman in rounds 2/3 with the acquired picks 

the only splash money should be spent on the tackle from the Saints. They can’t keep him. And he will be chasing a big payday 

[Prowler2k18]

19 minutes ago, hepcat said:

I think they’ll either try to get a mid tier vet FA QB or stick with Darnold. I don’t see them drafting Pickett. If they passed on Fields and Jones, why would they pick Pickett? He’s a lesser prospect than either of those guys. 

Actually drafting a QB like Pickett does make some sense. There’s a strong possibility that Darnold won’t be playing for us beyond next season. If that’s the case, who else do we have behind him as a Bonaire starter….PJ Walker? Don’t think so. And does Rhule and co want to gamble on a rookie in ‘23 when your odds are better finding a potential “franchise” QB with a top 10 pick this year? 

Ideally you could sit him behind Darnold and groom him to take over in ‘23 rather than putting pressure on a rookie to carry the offense. Yes, we need OL but we’re spinning our wheels until we get the QB position settled. Don’t be surprised if we go OL in FA with an eye toward find a permanent starter at QB for 2023 and beyond. JMO

Edited January 26, 2022 by Prowler2k18