Carolina Panthers Miss Out on Deshaun Watson: A Blessing in Disguise
Ok, you got me. This article will seem hypocritical considering the last thing I posted was “Carolina go get Deshaun”. However, that was prior to the 2021 season and prior to his legal issues. On Thursday evening, Adam Schefter reported the “Carolina Panthers were informed that they will no longer be in the running for Deshaun Watson”. This comes after months of waiting for Deshaun’s legal trouble to clear up and months of putting together a trade package suitable for the Texans. Many reports said Carolina had the best trade package due to their high draft picks and rookie contracts however, it came down to Deshaun and his decision of should he waive his no trade clause which he ultimately decided not to do. I won’t get into the specifics of why he didn’t choose Carolina considering they would be the team that could surround him with the best weapons in DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, and Christian McCaffrey. It could be the reported 2 teams left in the race, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, have a better culture or staff but nonetheless, Carolina is out.
So, what’s next for the Carolina Panthers?
First, breathe. Since the release of Cam Newton 2 years ago, the play in Carolina has been terrible. From Teddy Bridgewater to Sam Darnold, Panthers fans haven’t found peace and with the latest news that a young elite quarterback turned down the organization, many fans probably want to cry since there is no hope at quarterback. But I am here to tell you, relax. To get Deshaun, the compensation would have been a historical trade package. Many insiders have reported the package consisted of 3 first rounds picks and 2-3 starters. Others reported it was almost 5 draft picks and 3 starters all for one man.However, imagine if the trade would have happened. Of course we want elite quarterback play in Carolina but outside of the quarterback position, there are many other holes and the biggest one is the offensive line. There is no promise that Deshaun would have turned this team into a Super Bowl contender and from watching how the team played in 2021, I can bet Deshaun would’ve been miserable behind that offensive line.
Giving up your future and young stars on the defensive end does not sound like the right move to me. It was a move of frustration by an owner who has yet to see his investment payoff. Not to mention, Deshaun is still facing 22 civil cases for sexual harassment. For a team who’s owner was forced to sell, Jerry Richardson, because of sexual harassment, how would that look to the fans? There are many fans out there who would have taken great offense to the acquisition of Deshaun because of his legal troubles.
So, a blessing in disguise you say?
I am not a member of the front office and I have no say so in what the Carolina Panthers do however, here is what I would do. By not getting Deshaun, we save a lot and when I say a lot, I mean A LOT. You save future first round picks and starters on the defense. You keep your cap space that Watson’s contract would fill and you get to start homegrown. So what do the Panthers do next? They build the roster. With Sam Darnold on the roster and Matt Rhule on the coaching staff, I don’t take this team serious. It’s clear nobody wants to play for Matt Rhule considering 3 elite quarterbacks declined to be traded to Carollina in Matthew Stafford, Russell Wilson, and Deshaun Watson.
“Watson is the second top-tier player to slip out of the Panthers’ grasp. The other was Matthew Stafford, who was traded to the Los Angles Rams and won a Super Bowl................At this point, their best course of action is to draft one, either this year or next. Franchise quarterbacks, who can control their destination, have had no desire to come here. Russell Wilson declined to waive his no-trade clause to come to Carolina.”
While you still have your picks and cap space, build a roster suitable for a quarterback to come to Carolina and be successful. Learn from your mistakes. Don’t invest more capital into a middling quarterback because the reality is, you’re not a quarterback away. You aren’t the 49ers with Kyle Shanahan, you’re not the Rams with Sean McVay. Don’t get stuck in this rebuild stage when you think you’re so close yet you’re so far away. Enter the draft, if you like a quarterback at 6 you take them (personally I would take BPA or an offensive tackle). You see how this season plays out and if the team improves and looks more competitive, great. If not, you fire Matt Rhule and start from there. Also David Tepper, next time you hire a coach, please don’t go to the college ranks, thank you.
Its easy Carolina, please don’t make it harder than it needs to be.
