Panthers haven't drafted a QB since taking Cam Newton No. 1 in 2011. Is this the year?

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has had only one backup since entering the NFL as the No. 1 pick in 2011, but that could change this year.

While the Panthers are still in talks with veteran Derek Anderson, the longtime No. 2 behind Newton remains unsigned heading into this week’s draft.

While general manager Marty Hurney on Tuesday acknowledged the continuing dialogue with Anderson, he also brought up former Green Bay Packers GM Ron Wolf’s philosophy that teams should take a quarterback every year.

“He believed in every draft you should take a young quarterback to develop,” Hurney said. “And if he didn’t develop into a player for you, then he would have value. If he was a player, he would have trade value.”

The Panthers have two quarterbacks on the roster in addition to Newton: Garrett Gilbert, who was on the active roster most of last season, and recently acquired Taylor Heinicke, who was in Minnesota with Carolina offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

It’s hard to envision the Panthers heading into next season without adding another arm — Anderson or otherwise.

“I think every draft you look for those young quarterbacks because that’s the position in this league that makes the most difference. You go through the rosters and it’s the position that everybody is looking for — some starters, some backups,” Hurney said.

“I think you’re always looking at quarterbacks in the mid to low rounds. Now whether it works out that way, that (depends) how the draft goes.”

Hurney didn’t have much success mining the low rounds for passers during his first stint as GM.

Randy Fasani (fifth round, 2002), Stefan LeFors (fourth, ’05) and Tony Pike (sixth, ’10) all failed to develop — as did Jimmy Clausen, the 48th overall pick in 2010 who went 1-9 as a starter as a rookie.

Possible mid- to late-round targets include Richmond’s Kyle Lauletta, Western Kentucky’s Mike White and Virginia's Kurt Benkert.

This story was originally published April 24, 2018 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Panthers haven't drafted a QB since taking Cam Newton No. 1 in 2011. Is this the year?."