The Panthers look like a better team on paper than they were last year. While the roster is younger, key areas like cornerback and linebacker have been upgraded this offseason. They also got great value for their draft picks and signed a lot of quality veterans to team-friendly deals.
None of it will matter if they don’t get a step up at QB. Sam Darnold is stepping in to take Teddy Bridgewater’s place as Carolina’s starter. If Darnold starts delivering the occasional flashes of brilliance we saw with the Jets more consistently, this team might just have wild card potential. However, if he continues to flounder even with a better supporting cast, their ceiling will remain pretty low.
One guy who thinks the Darnold experiment is going to succeed is former Browns left tackle Joe Thomas. Watch Thomas explain why he’s expecting improvement from Darnold and the Panthers this year.
🎥: Former 10-time Pro Bowl OT Joe Thomas of the NFL Network, shares his expectations for Sam Darnold in his first season as #Panthers QB. pic.twitter.com/kHAcvFadkp
— panthersaccess™️ (@panthersaccess_) May 25, 2021
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