I like to think outside of the box when I play the role of general manager of the Carolina Panthers. In addition to my role as benevolent dictator of Trade Down Island, I’ve long advocated that every NFL team should dedicate one roster spot to what I call a “seven-foot leaper” (it would work!).
Here’s my latest crazy idea for the Panthers: Take the best player available at No. 8 and if it’s not a quarterback, trade down from No. 39 and select multiple quarterbacks in Round 3.
Hear me out.
Accelerating the quarterback solution
There is nothing more important than the Panthers finding a franchise quarterback. Period. They have to land a Pro Bowl caliber signal caller soon if they are going to have any chance at being a playoff contender. Over the last two seasons we’ve seen what it looks like for Carolina’s offense to be led by an average quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater) and several below-average players (Kyle Allen, Will Grier, PJ Walker), and folks, it ain’t pretty.
Carolina needs to exit the upcoming 2021 season knowing who their go-forward starter will be and that’s either Sam Darnold, a 2020 draft day selection, or “Mystery Free Agent X”.
Let’s say the the top-tier quarterbacks who are worth the No. 8 selection are gone by the time the Panthers pick, then they could just take the best left tackle available between Penei Sewell (doubtful he’s available) or Rashawn Slater (more likely).
Then at No. 39 in the second round the Panthers can trade back for multiple other Day 2 picks. Based on the Trade Value Chart, the No. 39 pick is worth 510 points. What if Carolina could work out a trade with the Raiders for No. 79 (195 points), No. 80 (190 points), No. 121 (52 points), and a 2022 fourth-rounder (average 62 points). They could then do the following in Rounds 1-4:
No. 8 (original pick) - Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater to shore up left tackle
No. 73 (original pick) - Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M
No. 79 (new pick) - Davis Mills, QB, Stanford
No. 80 (new pick) - Kyle Trask, QB, Florida
No. 113 (original pick) - Best player available
No. 121 (new pick) - Best player available
Yes, this would give the Panthers four young quarterbacks going into 2021, and with the singular importance of this one position, that would be a good thing! The draft is nothing but educated guesswork and any one of these four players could range from Pro Bowler to bust. While it’s unconventional, I’m willing to invest (not waste) a couple of Day 2 picks to find out where each of these players fall on the spectrum.
Three legitimate prospects
The NFL’s website gives each college prospect a grade and outlook for their career potential. They give all three of these quarterbacks similar grades with Kyle Trask at 6.19, Davis Mills at 6.14 and Kellen Mond at 6.12 which puts all three of them in the NFL’s category of “good backup who could become a starter”. These guys aren’t scrubs. Each of them could develop into legitimate NFL starters. Carolina would then let Joe Brady and the quarterback coaches figure out which of these four guys (including Darnold) has what it takes to be a Pro Bowler.
And it is possible to find Pro Bowler quarterbacks after the second round. Examples include Russell Wilson (third), Nick Foles (third), Dak Prescott (fourth), Kirk Cousins (fourth), and Tom Brady (sixth). Yes, there are many other mid-round quarterback picks who have flamed out, but the same can be said for quarterbacks drafted in the Top 10. It’s an inexact science.
Let’s give the coaching staff four young, capable quarterbacks and see who emerges as the alpha. If Sam Darnold is the starter next year and plays just “meh” football with the Panthers sitting on a 3-6 record, for example, just yank him and see what the best player of the Mond/Mills/Trask triumvirate can do.
As for roster space, just cut both Will Grier and PJ Walker and carry one more quarterback than normal. Or if one of the rookies just isn’t working out, put him on the practice squad and hope another team doesn’t sign him. Or just cut him. It happens.
Low-risk, high-reward
Mond, Mills, and Trask would each sign rookie deals of approximately 4-years, $5.0 million with signing bonuses of less than $1 million. Molding one of these NFL minimum wage prospects into a solid starting quarterback would be the ultimate low-risk, high-reward proposition. Carolina’s coaching staff would have through the end of the 2024 season to develop each of these guys.
And don’t worry about how to distribute snaps and reps at practice. The coaching staff is with these guys nearly 24/7. They will see everything they need to see and learn everything they need to learn in the quarterback meetings, workouts, and multiple opportunities to see them in action on the field. If the coaching staff can’t relatively quickly determine which of these guys should be getting the most practice reps, the Panthers need to find new quarterback coaches.
If this strategy fails, Carolina wasted their No. 39 and No. 73 picks, or the equivalents of Greg Little (No. 37), Yetur Gross-Matos (No. 38), Curtis Samuel (No. 40), Amini Silatolu (No. 40), Devin Funchess (No. 41), Kawann Short (No. 45), Daeshon Hall (No. 77), and Daryl Worley (No. 77). We aren’t really talking about the Panthers missing out on the next Hall of Famer with those picks.
Nothing is more important than Carolina landing a franchise quarterback, and soon. I’d be willing to do something unconventional this year - just once - and try to accelerate the process. If it works, Carolina could end up drafting the next Russell Wilson or Dak Prescott. Or more realistically, maybe the three rookies turn out to be one capable starter, one capable backup, and one bust. Even if Sam Darnold does morph into a Pro Bowl caliber player, it’s still absolutely necessary to have solid depth behind him, something the Panthers lack today.
Given the importance of the quarterback position and the urgency for the Panthers to find a long-term solution, I wouldn’t be upset with Carolina taking a big, bold swing in the 2021 draft.
Poll
What’s your view of the "draft three quarterbacks" strategy?
This poll is closed
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4%
Brilliant!
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9%
Worth the risk
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25%
Not really a fan
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59%
Ridiculously stupid