If Panthers move on from Cam Newton, who should start at quarterback for Carolina?
Welcome to a new feature of The Charlotte Observer, where two of our writers debate a current sports topic.
We start by tackling one of the most pressing questions in recent Charlotte sports history: If Cam Newton is traded or released by the Panthers during the offseason, who could be the next Carolina quarterback? We’ll begin with Observer sports columnist Scott Fowler, who will debate Panthers beat writer Alaina Getzenberg.
Fowler: OK, Alaina, for the purposes of this debate, we’re going to assume that sometime in the next few days or months the Panthers part ways with Newton. I think we both agree that this is likely to happen, given recent events, but we differ on what will occur after that. What’s your most likely scenario?
Getzenberg: It seems unlikely to me that the Panthers’ starting quarterback Week 1 of 2020 will be the long-term starter. I think there’s a higher chance that the team goes with a stop-gap approach while they are rebuilding. They can’t afford to pay anyone too much next year, especially with a significant amount of dead cap, so free agent quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Philip Rivers seem out of the question.
I also think that because there are at least three teams ahead of them in the draft that need a quarterback, there likely won’t be one they like enough left to pick at seven.
Right now, I could see them bringing in a cheaper free agent quarterback that could potentially cost less than Newton, like Ryan Tannehill, possibly Teddy Bridgewater or Andy Dalton, if he becomes available. This QB would be a cheaper — or, in Bridgewater’s case, a more reliable option, health-wise — but would still bring a veteran presence into the quarterback room.
Fowler: Tannehill had a great year for Tennessee and Bridgewater would be exciting, but in my opinion the Panthers don’t gain too much and do spend too much money if they sign a stop-gap veteran of that caliber. If you’re going to do that, why not just keep Cam for another year and see how it goes? He’s still under contract for one more year at $21.1 million, after all.
And as enticing as someone like Rivers or Tannehill would be, this is still a Carolina team that isn’t going to be very good.
To me it makes more sense to use the No. 7 draft pick to pick a new quarterback. And, if needed, use that pick and some other assets — this year’s second-round pick, any player not named Christian McCaffrey, or both — and move up a spot or two to ensure you can get Oregon’s rocket-armed Justin Herbert (I’d also be happy with LSU’s Joe Burrow or Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, of course, but the price for either will likely be too steep).
Getzenberg: Herbert is definitely a trade-up option, but I think the Panthers just have too many holes to give up draft picks this year. There will be Day 1 starters available with the No. 7 overall pick who fill big defensive needs. At this point, it seems like the Panthers will need to bring in a veteran presence if Newton is gone, whether the new quarterback brought in is starting or not.
Fowler: So who starts in September on opening day for the Panthers? I’m picking Herbert.
This is the ideal season for the Panthers to sink or swim — and it will often be “sink” — with a rookie. The pressure to win is mostly off in 2020, and the Matt Rhule honeymoon is in full force. If the Panthers go 5-11 again, so what?
I think it’s fine to skip having a veteran on the roster entirely and let offensive coordinator Joe Brady try to teach three young quarterbacks — Kyle Allen and Will Grier being the other two — at one time. Spend the money elsewhere.
Getzenberg: If Newton is in fact gone, as we are saying in our hypothetical scenario here, I believe whatever free agent -- or the quarterback they potentially acquire in a trade for Newton — will be starting Week 1. There are too many possibilities to pinpoint who it might be. But starting with a veteran player in Week 1 seems realistic to me. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Grier or even Kyle Allen get a start at some point during the year.
Whatever direction they go, this has already been one of the biggest offseasons of change for the Panthers in team history. Things are only going to get crazier.
This story was originally published February 18, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
