The Panthers haven’t found a QB, so why not start Cam Newton? Your questions answered
.JPG "Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) hugs quarterback Cam Newton before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022.")
The NFL draft is less than three weeks away, and soon, we’ll figure out what the Panthers will actually do at quarterback.
Until then, we expect your questions on that topic to continue.
After addressing the offensive line in free agency, quarterback remains the Panthers’ biggest need. Getting it right will likely be the difference between competing for a playoff spot and missing out for the fifth consecutive year.
Here are your questions and our answers.
Michael asks: What’s our best and smartest option at QB? It’s been three years; it’s time to figure this out!
Michael, I understand your frustration, and you’re not the only one. Finding a franchise quarterback is the NFL’s biggest puzzle. I wrote about that last week and the Panthers are still searching.
The best and smartest option for Carolina is to try its luck in the draft. I’m not sold on Jimmy Garropolo or Baker Mayfield, who remain options. Neither strikes me as a franchise quarterback. Both are coming off shoulder surgeries. Both may cost more than I’d be willing to spend to acquire them.
The Panthers would get more long-term value in the draft.
Malik Willis is viewed by most draft experts as the player with the most upside and potential. Sure, there’s a chance he may not pan out. But the potential that he could be great is intriguing to me. I agree with general manager Scott Fitterer’s sentiment, that you keep trying and trying until you find that right one.
If Willis doesn’t work out, keep drafting until you finally get it right.
— Jonathan M. Alexander
@CouchCoachKyle asks: What’s the plan with Brady Christensen? Is he going to start this season at left tackle or is that something we’re going to try and address in the draft? (Again.)
Ending your question with “again” screams frustration. Panthers fans everywhere understand why. There has been a revolving door of left tackles in Carolina since Jordan Gross retired in 2014. Cam Erving, Dennis Daley, Greg Little, Mike Remmers, Matt Kalil, Russell Okung and several others have all spent time at left tackle and no one has been able to hold the spot.
Could Christensen be the Panthers’ long-term solution at left tackle? The Panthers are comfortable with that idea. Last month, coach Matt Rhule said that new offensive line coach James Campen would’ve liked to see Christensen get more starts at left tackle last season. That means Campen, who has 20-plus years of offensive line experience, sees real promise in Christensen at left tackle. Two weeks ago, Fitterer said he is confident in the Panthers’ offensive line as is after signing Bradley Bozeman and Austin Corbett.
Carolina’s current projected starting lineup up front is Brady Christensen (LT), Michael Jordan or Bradley Bozeman (LG), Pat Elflein (C), Austin Corbett (RG) and Taylor Moton (RT). But that would change if the Panthers select a first-round tackle.
If that happens, then expect Christensen to slide inside to left guard.
— Ellis L. Williams
Nathaniel asks: Why do we still have the largest cap space in the league (~$30m) and not spending it?
While the Panthers have about $30 million in cap space, some of that money is reserved for other needs. The Panthers are holding back $8-9 million for the draft, and $10 million for in-season moves and injured reserve.
The Panthers have about $11 million they hope to spend.
There is no rush to spend this money, which is why they haven’t spent it. The market has slowed, and the Panthers can get better deals after the draft. They’ll also have a better sense of what they need.
The Panthers are hoping to address quarterback, left tackle and edge rusher. All of those positions are well-paid.
But Carolina isn’t just going to rush and spend bank when it doesn’t have to.
“We want to have the flexibility to do both,” Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer told The Observer last week. “That’s why we don’t want to spend every dollar. Whatever money we have we can always carry next year. But in order to maximize what we can do, get ready for what’s next, we want to have that flexibility cap-wise.”
— JMA
@Cerea1Kira asks: Do you know what the Panthers’ plans at RB are? Are they carrying three backs into the season or do they trade Chuba Hubbard?
There are no plans to trade Chuba Hubbard.
The Panthers signed running back D’Onta Foreman with the thought that he’d be a compliment for Christian McCaffrey and Hubbard, who are both smaller speed backs.
Foreman, at 6-foot-1, 236 pounds, is a power back who could be used in short-yardage and goal-line situations, where Carolina has struggled in recent years.
The Panthers like Hubbard, who led the team with 612 rushing yards and was tied for the team lead with five rushing touchdowns. I don’t anticipate him going anywhere.
— JMA
Karlton asks: With the way things look right now, why not Cam Newton (as the starter)?
Because there’s a belief that there are still better options still out there, whether that’s in the draft or via a trade.
I think what Cam showed was that he’s a competitor, and still has the ability to make plays, especially with his legs. He ran for five touchdowns in eight games last season.
But he wasn’t consistent passing the ball. He had an 0-5 record as a starter, threw four touchdowns, five interceptions and competed only 54.8 percent of his passes.
His arm clearly isn’t what it once was, and that has given teams pause. Newton would have to compete with another quarterback for a starting job.
— JMA
@chubbinatub asks: If an Elite edge like Kayvon Thibodeaux is there at No. 6 along with an OT they like and a QB, do the Panthers consider Kayvon?
The Panthers will absolutely consider Thibodeaux. Carolina has been doing extensive homework on the edge-rushing class. After losing Haason Reddick in free agency to Philadelphia, the Panthers have to replace his production next season.
Frankie Luvu is expected to step in as a starter next season. The Panthers are confident in his ability on the edge and expect him to produce at a higher level in starting role. But Carolina is still thin at pass rusher.
I’d be surprised if the Panthers selected a first-round defensive player for a fourth straight season. I think Carolina will select a defensive player at some point in the draft but not in the first round. Quarterback and offensive tackle are too glaring of a need.
— ELW
@MingaFCB asks: How likely is it that the Panthers sign a veteran left tackle before the draft? A few weeks ago, a signing of Duane Brown seemed close to happening. Anything new regarding that?
I think it’s less likely.
If the Panthers sign a veteran left tackle, it would likely be after the draft. Why rush it if those players are still on the market?
The longer they wait, the more their market value drops. And the Panthers like this left tackle draft class. There are a number of players who are good enough to start immediately. It’d make no sense to sign one before the draft, unless their minds were already made up on drafting a quarterback.
The Panthers are in a wait-and-see approach right now.
— JMA
Mike asks: What happened with Greg little? Why didn’t he work out? He was never active for Miami after the trade. Everyone clamoring for left tackles, seems weird he never gets mentioned.
It wasn’t an attitude thing. Little seemed like a great guy. The Panthers’ desire to move on from him hinged on the fact that they wanted to add some more draft picks and that they were not getting enough from him, based on the investment they made with a second-round pick.
The expectation was that Little would earn the starting spot at left tackle at some point after being drafted in the second round of the 2019 draft.
But he never did. He also struggled to stay healthy and dealt with a variety of injuries in his first two seasons. There was a sense that he didn’t show much improvement in his time with the Panthers.
On film, Little occasionally made some nice run blocks, but he was rarely consistent. I think the fact that Miami hasn’t used him, also speaks to that fact.
— JMA
Alex G. asks: Any chance we wait until 2023 to target an elite rookie QB?
Definitely.
I don’t think it’s a forgone conclusion the Panthers will draft a quarterback at six, especially if tackles Ikem Ekwonu (N.C. State) or Evan Neal (Alabama) are still on the board. Both of those players are considered Day 1 starters by scouts and draft experts.
Both of those players address one of the Panthers’ biggest needs.
I also think that Carolina drafting a quarterback doesn’t mean it would be opposed to drafting an elite one in 2023. The quarterback is the most important position, and if the Panthers don’t have it solved by 2023, and there’s one staring them in the face, they’ll definitely draft him.
— JMA
Connor asks: If the Panthers have their choice of the top three tackles, who should they take?
Though unlikely, there is a chance the Panthers will have a choice between Neal, Ekwonu and Charles Cross (Mississippi State). Scouts consider all three as blue-chip prospects capable of starting from Day 1.
Neal has the highest floor. His freakish 6-foot-5, 340-pound frame gives him elite size. Scouts are impressed with how refined his move set is.
I was told by several NFL scouts that Ekwonu is the best run-blocking tackle in his class. He’ll fit any scheme but would flourish in the Panthers’ new downhill, power run scheme that offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo is installing. Ekwonu could also play guard for a few years before sliding to tackle.
Cross is the best pass-blocking tackle available. He comes from an air raid offense which an NFL coach said limits his pro knowledge and know-how. Most scouts consider Neal as tackle No. 1, Ekwonu at No. 2 and Cross as tackle No. 3.
If the Panthers have their choice then I think they would take Neal. But they really like Ekwonu. I’ve heard conflicting reports on how Cross is viewed by the team.
— ELW
@lionbear23 asks: If Matt Rhule doesn’t draft a QB … what is the possibility that he gets fired mid-year? Does Sam Darnold actually take advantage of a more established offensive line or does he sink like his entire NFL career?
I don’t think Rhule’s job status is contingent upon him drafting a quarterback. I think there’s a chance the Panthers don’t draft one but trade for one.
Rhule’s job status is contingent upon the Panthers’ win and loss record next season.
As for Darnold, things should be better with a better offensive line and new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, who has a history of helping quarterbacks improve.
But a lot of what we’ve seen from Darnold is based on those around him.
Will the pieces around him remain healthy? Can the Panthers protect him? He’s also going to have to beat out whoever the Panthers bring in to compete with him.
— JMA
This story was originally published April 4, 2022 at 3:29 PM.
