They’re certainly not alone, but the Carolina Panthers will embark on a challenging hunt for a starting quarterback this offseason. And that hunt, according to general manager Scott Fitterer, may result in the team utilizing its most valuable asset this spring.
At the site of this year’s Senior Bowl, Fitterer gave us quite a few more nuggets in an in-depth interview with Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. The second-year shot-caller told Gantt that leaping on a passer with the draft’s sixth overall pick could very much be an option, even in a less-than-stellar class.
“You just take the best available,” Fitterer said when asked about having to choose between a quarterback and a left tackle—two of the roster’s most pressing needs. “If you have a quarterback you think you can win with long-term; obviously, you’d probably lean that direction. You’re always looking for that. It’s not the safest way to go, but you have to take your shots. Any time you’re in the top 10, you’ve got to think about taking a shot on a quarterback if you’re able to.
“Left tackles are probably easier to identify; if you think they can step in and play left tackle for you for 10 years, that’s always a solid pick as well. It’s however you want to address it, but if you have a quarterback you like, you take a shot there.”
While on with WFNZ’s The Clubhouse with Kyle Bailey two weeks ago, Fitterer had stated that this year’s group is just “good” as opposed to “great.” He’ll be watching a decent chunk of that “good” group this week in Mobile, Ala.—with Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, North Carolina’s Sam Howell, Liberty’s Malik Willis, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder, Nevada’s Carson Strong and Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe all on hand.
Realistically, at least to this point, only Pickett and Howell appear as viable options for the Panthers if they use that sixth pick on a passer. But, we’re only just at “this point.”
There’s plenty of ballgame left, folks.
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