David Newton's "cryptic" comment got me to thinkin

[MHS831]

Some of us want a QB at #6, some of us want a T or a pass rusher.  There are about 40 days between now and the draft, so the current picture will be a bit more clear by the time draft day rolls around.  Yesterday, however, during the biggest flood of free agent signings in Panther history, Newton wrote an article about the "Post Watson" QB search.  Toward the end of that article, he mentioned that Fitterer is going to Liberty's pro day Tuesday and the Pittsburgh's after that.  Sure, due diligence, but then there was this:

"The Panthers also believe this quarterback class is better than critics say."--David Newton

“I think there's a good franchise player at six in this draft without identifying who they might be,’’ --Fitterer at the NFL combine.

I gasped.

Was he baiting a trade back offer?  Does he think there is a 'franchise quarterback" in this draft?  Did we see his cards, or was this a bluff? 

I was dumbfounded, so I gasped once more.

I think it is important to note that at the combine, we were still targeting D. Watson, and at the combine, you only talk about the players there--and if they mentioned some other free agents by name, it could (theoretically) hurt their position with Watson. 

So for those of you who want Minshew, his name has come up in a few articles.  We inquired about him last year. 

More QB ramblings:

• Expect suddenly homeless Baker Mayfield to try to get a deal done in Indy (Baker's request) or Seattle (my guess).  The Browns will demand a second and maybe a fourth, according to SI, but they need him gone and the cap room that would create-- a trade of Mayfield would save them almost $19m.  The Panthers have (reportedly) expressed no interest in Baker.
• 
• Expect Crablegs Winston to stay in Nawlins.
• Forget Jimmy G--his shoulder surgery will take 4 months to heal.  He may end up in Indy but at that salary, he will be hard to trade from the operating table. 
• There is some noise that Matt Ryan is pissed off and may want out, but the Falcons can't move that salary--the contract will bind them together.
• So that leaves the Panthers with an attempt to trade for Minshew or draft a QB if they decide to make a move.  They spent most of their available cap room on Friday, so I am of the mindset that it has come down to one of three options:
  • Trade for and sign Minshew (would Philly take a fourth rounder? that is all we really have in 2022, but Philly does not need 2022 picks)
  • Draft a QB (Willis is my guess, at #6, but they seem to like Pickett too)
  • Trade back, stay with Darnold, and maybe draft your backup QB (Strong, Ridder, for example).
  • Longshot?  39-year old Ryan Fitzpatrick on a 1-year deal.  Heard it here first.

[Smithers]

We are drafting Pickett.  And I’m excited as heck about it

[MHS831]

3 minutes ago, Smithers said:

We are drafting Pickett.  And I’m excited as heck about it

You could be right.  To me, that makes the most sense, based on Fitterer's comment.  Willis is just too raw.

[ForJimmy]

1 minute ago, Smithers said:

We are drafting Pickett.  And I’m excited as heck about it

He really won’t be as bad as people are saying. The man knows how to read a defense and carves up the middle of the field. He also has some legs on him. I’d prefer Willis or Howell for upside, but I’ll be ok with Pickett. 

[LinvilleGorge]

Drafting Kenny Pickett is the draft equivalent of what we've been doing acquiring veteran QBs - basically panic overpaying for trash.

[Skack25]

Maybe I’m a homer, but I see Howell being better than Pickett.

[uncfan888]

No to Pickett. 

[Byrdman4real]

3 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Drafting Kenny Pickett is the draft equivalent of what we've been doing acquiring veteran QBs - basically panic overpaying for trash.

Exactly 

[WarPanthers89]

• Longshot?  39-year old Ryan Fitzpatrick on a 1-year deal.  Heard it here first.

I’ve been calling for this for a while now. Sign a LT in free agency, sign Fitzmagic as a one year rental, draft Willis at #6 and let him have a true redshirt year to adjust to the NFL. He can learn from fitz and Darnold will be backup, then we are set going into 2023 season with a young talented team on both sides of the ball and (hopefully) our franchise QB ready to start and take over the league.

Our offense next season:

QB: Fitzpatrick, Darnold, Willis

O line: FA LT (Armstead?), LG: Christensen, Center: Bozeman, RG: Corbett, RT: Moton

Playmakers: CMC, DJ Moore, Anderson, Tremble, Marshall JR, Thomas, Hubbard, D’Onta Foreman 

Major upgrade on paper and hope for the future 

[firefox1234]

Meh..even if Pickett or whoever is trash. If they are like Pickles and we’re drafting top 10 or top 5 we will just go again in 2023.

[Luciu5]

In a vacuum, Pickett is the best of all remaining options, mostly due to his immediate potential. Pickett at 6 is a different conversation.

[LinvilleGorge]

6 minutes ago, Skack25 said:

Maybe I’m a homer, but I see Howell being better than Pickett.

I don't even think it's close. I honestly have no idea how anyone watches these two QBs and convinces themselves Pickett is a better prospect. Put Pickett on UNC's team last year and he's a UDFA. Straight up.

[MHS831]

11 minutes ago, WarPanthers89 said:

 

• Longshot?  39-year old Ryan Fitzpatrick on a 1-year deal.  Heard it here first.

I’ve been calling for this for a while now. Sign a LT in free agency, sign Fitzmagic as a one year rental, draft Willis at #6 and let him have a true redshirt year to adjust to the NFL. He can learn from fitz and Darnold will be backup, then we are set going into 2023 season with a young talented team on both sides of the ball and (hopefully) our franchise QB ready to start and take over the league.

Our offense next season:

QB: Fitzpatrick, Darnold, Willis

O line: FA LT (Armstead?), LG: Christensen, Center: Bozeman, RG: Corbett, RT: Moton

Playmakers: CMC, DJ Moore, Anderson, Tremble, Marshall JR, Thomas, Hubbard, D’Onta Foreman 

Major upgrade on paper and hope for the future 

My bad.  Heard it here second.  That could be the move.   And then draft Willis? Interesting move.  I like it.

[MHS831]

For what it is worth, I had my reservations about Justin Herbert and Josh Allen.  So I am staying out of this.