• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Phoenix Sports Today

Phoenix Sports News Continuously Updated

  • Cardinals
  • Diamondbacks
  • Coyotes
  • Basketball
    • Mercury
    • Suns
  • Soccer
  • Colleges
    • Arizona State
    • Grand Canyon University
    • Northern Arizona
    • University of Arizona

Panthers GM Makes Surprising Decision On QB Sam Darnold

April 25, 2021 by The Spun

New York Jets QB Sam Darnold warming up before a game.

When the Carolina Panthers acquired Sam Darnold from the New York Jets earlier this year, the belief was that he was their new franchise quarterback, at least for the short-term. We may have jumped to a conclusion much too soon.

Darnold’s current rookie contract includes a fifth-year option for the 2022 season. It was previously believed the Panthers would pick up said option, keeping the former USC star in Carolina for at least the next two seasons. That may not be the plan.

Panthers GM Scott Fitterer admitted of Friday his organization won’t decide on Darnold’s fifth-year option until after next week’s 2021 NFL Draft. That could be a clear sign of Carolina’s long term plan with Darnold and the quarterback unit.

The Panthers will select eighth overall next week. If they use the pick on a quarterback prospect, it’ll tell us everything we need to know about Darnold’s future.

Scott Fitterer said the decision on picking up Sam Darnold’s fifth-year option will come after the draft. “We have a strong plan in place,” the Panthers GM said.

— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) April 23, 2021

It looks like Sam Darnold can’t get too comfortable just yet. His stay in Carolina may be short-lived.

The real question is will a top-tier quarterback prospect still be available when the Panthers make their pick at No. 8? It’s practically a lock the first three picks of the 2021 NFL Draft will be quarterbacks. No. 4 could also be used on a signal-caller, depending on what the Atlanta Falcons do with the pick.

There’s five elite quarterback prospects in this year’s class. If four are gone by pick No. 5, it’s going to be a fight to acquire the last available. The Panthers could become involved in a bidding war, depending on how things shake out.

Regardless, Darnold has legitimate reason to believe he may not be with the Panthers beyond the 2021 season. Luckily, we won’t have to wait much longer to discover Carolina’s quarterback plan.

[David Newton]

The post Panthers GM Makes Surprising Decision On QB Sam Darnold appeared first on The Spun.

Filed Under: Arizona State

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • 2023 SnakePit Awards: Unsung Hero nominations open
  • Suns Injury Report: Nassir Little remains in concussion protocol, has an orbital bone fracture
  • Suns Injury Report: Bradley Beal targeting a return on Tuesday against Warriors
  • Salary cap could exceed $240M in 2024
  • Bradley Beal on course to make season debut on Tuesday

Categories

Archives

Our Partners

All Sports

  • 247 Sports
  • ArizonaSports.com - 98.7 FM
  • Bleacher Report
  • Heat Waved
  • OurSports Central
  • The Arizona Republic
  • The Sports Fan Journal
  • USA Today

Baseball

  • Arizona Diamondbacks
  • AZ Snake Pit
  • Last Word On Baseball
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Venom Strikes

Basketball

  • Phoenix Suns
  • Amico Hoops
  • Basketball Insiders
  • Bright Side Of The Sun
  • High Post Hoops
  • Hoops Hype
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Last Word On Pro Basketball
  • Pro Basketball Talk
  • Real GM
  • Valley Of The Suns

Football

  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Cardinals Gab
  • Cards Wire
  • Deep Dive
  • Last Word On Pro Football
  • NFL Trade Rumors
  • Our Turf Football
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Football Talk
  • Raising Zona
  • Revenge Of The Birds
  • Words From The Birds

Hockey

  • Elite Prospects
  • Five For Howling
  • Howlin Hockey
  • Last Word On Hockey
  • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Talk
  • The Hockey Writers

Soccer

  • Last Word on Soccer
  • MLS Multiplex

College

  • AZ Desert Swarm
  • Busting Brackets
  • College Football News
  • College Sports Madness
  • Devils In Detail
  • House Of Sparky
  • Last Word On College Basketball - Univ of Arizona
  • Saturday Blitz
  • Zags Blog
  • Zona Zealots

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in