2021 NFL Draft: Five teams in the market for a mid-round quarterback
By Kyle Edmond
Carolina Panthers
Of the teams on this list, the Carolina Panthers probably are the lowest of the list for urgency in drafting a quarterback. Teddy Bridgewater looked strong this season and P.J. Walker was steady when needed. However, are either the long-term answer that Matt Rhule and the Carolina Panthers are looking for?
If the Panthers do draft a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft, then they will have to be an exact fit to the system and would most likely come in the later rounds, think fifth at the very earliest. Bridgewater and Walker can handle the situation in the time being, but an upgrade wouldn’t be the worst thought.
Both Bridgewater and Walker are signed on for next season, but after the 2021 season Walker becomes a restricted free agent and Bridgewater has an opt-out clause with only another year left after that. That provides another reason for the Panthers to explore the quarterback pool.
Should there be a player that fits what they want to do long-term available later in the draft, they can try and get ahead of the curve of potentially losing both of their quarterbacks. The other situation is if one of the top quarterbacks begins tumbling down the order or even into the mid-rounds, then they could pull the trigger.