The Panthers’ quarterback depth chart is pretty loaded at the moment. But, even after trading for Sam Darnold, Panthers GM Scott Fitterer says he’s open to drafting a passer later this month. 
[RELATED: Panthers Give Bridgewater Permission Seek Trades]
“This doesn’t take out of anything in the draft,” Fitterer said (via the team website). “It doesn’t take us out of taking a quarterback, it doesn’t take us out of taking any position. What we wanted to do going into this draft, through free agency, through this trade with Sam, was to just get rid of all the needs we have. We wanted to get to a place where the roster was in a good spot, and we could take the best available player at number eight. We could always move up, and we could always move back, but this puts us in a position to make the right football decision for this team moving forward.”
Now the backup, Teddy Bridgewater has two years to go on his three-year, $63MM deal. The Panthers have given him the green light to facilitate a trade, so it seems unlikely that he’ll be staying put. Meanwhile, Fitterer has also exercised Darnold’s pricey fifth-year option, tying him to the club through 2022.
Even if the Panthers opt for a QB, they’re unlikely to do it with the No. 8 overall pick. Instead, they’re expected to target a cornerback or an offensive lineman.
Lip service
When you’ve got people competing to be the starting quarterback you really don’t have a starting quarterback. But with all the pre-draft hype there probably won’t be anyone available by the time the 8th pick is made – although I hear that Pitts once played quarterback.
That could be another reason the Broncos might want him. They need to be prepared in case the QB room ever gets quarantined again.
This is more about trying to up the return they get on any trade for 8.
If they say “man I really like Lance, if I move back I could miss on him. You got to sweeten this for me to do that”
They may take a QB at some point later in the draft, but it makes no sense to give up a future second for a young QB then turn around and use a first round pick on one in the same year.
kellen mond, kj costello, sam ehlinger
Can they get a 7th rd pick for Will Grier (sarcasm)
Sarcasm or not, if he’s a failed Day Two pick, they could try the same thing the Jets did with Hackenburg. They traded him for a conditional seventh rounder. If he had made the Raiders roster, the Jets would’ve gotten the pick. He didn’t, so they didn’t.
Whoever they take will just end up in Buffalo in a few years anyway.
I will laugh if they draft a QB and then fail to trade Bridgewater.
Bridgewater to Washington? New England maybe?