Raleigh PF

Those aren't the correct cap numbers for Watson. If he's traded the prorated bonus for Watson kicks in (at Houston's expense). This means the Panthers would not pay any part of that. They would, however, be on the hook for any roster bonuses. That said, he would have the following cap numbers: 2021 - $10,540,000 2022 - $35,000,000 2023 - $37,000,000 2024 - $32,000,000 2025 - $32,000,000 Considering where QB contracts are headed, DW's contract is going to be a real bargain, although I would expect new contract negotiations after 2023.

NY and Miami are the wildcards. I don't see many scenarios in which one or both of the two teams doesn't trade back with a team in need of a QB. The only way they wouldn't trade back is if, say, one of them completes a trade with Houston for Deshaun, figures Darnold (or Miami sticks with Tag) is worth a shot at QB and then decides to draft Sewell or Slater to help with protection. There is simply no scenario in which Fields or Wilson fall beyond pick #4 otherwise.

Why was he released and not traded? Who, in their right mind, would be willing to give up a "solid draft pick" AND pay $17.5M for a guy who has a hard time staying healthy and had 5.5 sacks last year? I mean, they couldn't trade him to Houston...

Every Super Bowl brings about a litany of definitive statements: "Having a great DLine wins championships" "Can't win without an elite receiver" "Must have a great OLine to compete" "The secondary is the key to a Super Bowl win" Super Bowls are just one game, yet they are treated as the holy grail of all games. The fact is, KC had subs in at key positions in the OLine. Tough to win that way, even with elite personnel in other positions. TB had a solid game plan and got KC rattled early. Then again, Andy Reid is not always known for winning the big game at the end of the year. Talent wins games. Talent throughout the roster helps. Good coaching makes a difference. Staying healthy is also huge. It's just one game.

The hope would be that the Jets, Dolphins, Falcons or Lions decide he is the QB of the future and trade for him WITHOUT giving up their top-10 pick. It would take a team out of the running for the top 4 draftable QBs.

I would be incredibly surprised if BOTH the Jets and the Dolphins fail to secure an opportunity to trade down. They could pick up a boatload of picks to help their teams. Oh, and if Mac Jones is available when WFT picks, I'd be shocked if they didn't take him.

What if the Panthers traded for Garoppolo to (a) get out from under Teddy's contract and (b) cut Garoppolo as soon as the trade's complete? Somebody tell me the numbers, cause this looks like a big win if this is the reason.

The Lions would want Goff...with THAT contract? They'd have to give up Goff AND a 1st rounder(that they don't have).

Tell me the last time forcing a player to sit out worked well for the team that did it? In the end, the player ends up going elsewhere, happily or otherwise. You can make a case about Antonio Brown, but he was/is a nut case. Deshaun is not that. Free agents will still sign with the Texans, but probably not big ones if Texans do that. Hint: they won't.

I expect Caserio and Culley will be able to talk McNair into a trade. Wouldn't be surprised if they've already done so, but are executing a plan to get the most out of a trade. There simply is no incentive for them to make a trade now - it doesn't help the Texans AT ALL. By waiting until just before the draft, they can maximize value. They know what they want and expect they'll get it. From Caserio/Culley, they'll argue that the right trade not only gets them a likely successor, but with the extra picks, they can get much better in a hurry and at a relatively low cost for the next few years. Deshaun is their golden ticket, if they manage the trade correctly. In the meantime, I expect there not to be a ton of movement on the QB market UNTIL Watson's fate is decided, meaning, it'll setup to be one of the more exciting drafts. Expect a whole lot of nothing until then.

I think we can agree that the three scenarios that work out best for the Panthers are: 1. Trade for Deshaun Watson. 2. Trade up in the draft and get one of Fields/Wilson. 3. Trade for Matt Stafford. I put these in the order of my preference. You may have yours, but it appears these are the three. Unfortunately, I wouldn't put the Panthers as the leaders for any of the three scenarios. If that holds true, I don't want the Panthers to pick Trey Lance, Mac Jones or anyone else in this year's draft - at least not in the first three rounds or so. Just seems like a higher potential for a bust and a waste of a pick. In that scenario, I could live with Teddy for another year or maybe try to accumulate another 1st round pick for 2022 to gain more draft capital. I'd rather they not reach for a QB.

I was pretty happy with the idea of Mac Jones being the pick if the Panthers traded down in the 1st and got a few extra (needed) picks. But then I saw Mac Jones in that Pillsbury Doughboy costume. Except he wasn't wearing a costume. Maybe he gets in better shape once he gets to the NFL and can dedicate some money and resources towards his fitness level, but dayum...

I agree with you about Teddy and his contract. From Detroit's perspective, the possibility of getting a 1st round pick next year (albeit less likely) has to be attractive. Having said that, you are likely right that Detroit would want more in the deal, but I think it's a decent foundation for a discussion. The good news is, swapping Teddy and Stafford is a cap neutral transaction. Both teams are paying ~20 to each QB next year, so it wouldn't impact either teams salary caps. Having Teddy there to be the bridge to a newly drafted QB would certainly help them, as well.

I'd be willing to trade a 2nd this year and a conditional 3rd in 2022, with the following conditions: 1. Detroit takes Bridgewater in the deal. 2. Pick becomes a 2022 2nd round pick if the Panthers make the playoffs AND Stafford plays more than 60% of the snaps at QB. 3. Pick becomes a 2022 1st round pick if the Panthers make the NFC Championship AND Stafford plays more than 60% of the snaps at QB. If the Panthers make it that far, it's essentially a 2nd round pick anyhow. In other words, the better Stafford does, the better the pick is for Detroit, but increasingly towards the bottom end of the round.

Miami has the leverage. They know that teams trading into that spot are doing so to draft a franchise QB, which drives up the price. They'll get better offers.

I don't think that'd do it, but Miami would be my target.

Also not listed here - Miami. Sure, Miami could use their #3 overall pick on a young QB, but that means giving up on Tua and I just don't think that's reasonable, yet. Tua needs time. If Miami is smart, they trade out of the #3 spot and use those picks to build a better team around Tua. Bear in mind, Miami has two 2nd round picks this year and they could be used to trade for Stafford. If that happens, they get a QB on a reasonable deal who can be the bridge for Tua for a year or two. Miami was already good last year, this would be the final piece needed to get them over the top. And, while their trading away their #3 overall pick, might I suggest a certain Carolina team that they could trade that to...

You have no idea what they might or might not do. Stop trying to pass off an opinion as fact.

Take them off the table, likely Houston takes Watson off the table.

I'll go in with others saying that nothing will likely happen until the new HC is hired. Who that is and how much DW likes it will determine next steps. Logically, Watson would stay in Houston and work it out with the new HC, but then again, I don't know how big the divide is between them. After that, it's really up to NY and Miami. Both have young QBs. Darnold has been around longer and had to deal with some shitty coaches. I'd bet that Saleh, being the defensive minded coach he is, would like to keep Darnold, trade down to get some extra picks and really get the team moving in his direction. Who knows what Miami thinks or is doing, but I'd list them as the favorites for Deshaun after Houston. The Panthers need to stay engaged, but maybe start talking to NY and Miami about what it would take to trade into their spots to get either Wilson or Fields. Whoever loses the DW sweepstakes is likely going to be fielding calls to get into a position to draft a QB.

Go back and look at the last 10 drafts for QBs. Tell me how likely that is to happen. You're picking 3 anomalies out of more than 20 QBs picked in the first round.

I agree the cost is huge, but I believe we have better pieces in place at the executive level to get quality players beyond Day1. Getting a franchise QB is going to be costly this year, no matter how you slice it. And punting the ball down the road just ensures continued mediocrity until the position is filled.

Yup, keep the picks and the Panthers are more likely to end up with someone like Blake Bortles, Jake Locker or Blaine Gabbert. But hey, at least you saved your picks.

Yup, if the Panthers had the 1st pick in the draft, I would expect them to draft Lawrence, exactly for the reason you mentioned. The Panthers don't have that pick and the cost of getting from #8 to #1 is equal to or greater than the cost for Watson. Forget the #1 pick - the price for that is just out of reach. The best chance for the Panthers is #3, which again, is going to be costly. So, the Panthers could spend up to three 1st round picks to get to #3 and draft a QB that is not necessarily a sure thing (Fields/Wilson) OR they can spend those picks on a proven franchise level QB who is only 25 years old.

Let's think about what the Texans do with those picks. With that draft capital, they should come out of this draft with a franchise QB, at the very least. I don't care who it is, they are going to have ups and downs the first year. It sure would be nice to have a RB the caliber of CMC to ease into the position. CMC bolsters the running game and gives a young QB a nice outlet/check-down when blitzed. The Texans may ask for a little more, but to them, CMC would be valuable. Additionally, while CMC is a big cap hit for the Panthers, he's much less a hit to the Texans who don't have to count his signing bonus against their cap.