The Carolina Panthers are proving that one team’s trash is another team’s . . . trash.
In setting out to determine which recent NFL draft prospects have fallen the shortest of their respective expectations, ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler pooled together the opinions of numerous league officials to get some perspective. Fowler went to scouts, executives and coaches, asking them to name one player from the past 15 or so years who they thought would “be great,” but just wasn’t.
And although the Panthers aren’t direct culprits of picking any of the 15 featured busts, they are guilty of picking them up off the street after their failed tenures.
One of which, obviously, is quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold, who Carolina acquired in 2020 for second and fourth-round selections they won’t have for next weekend, was drafted by the New York Jets at the third overall spot in 2018.
“Coming out of USC, Darnold appeared poised to solidify the Jets’ quarterback position once and for all,” Fowler writes. “The team shipped the No. 6 pick and three second-rounders to Indianapolis for the right to take Darnold at No. 3. Some around the league believed wholeheartedly in that move and are still hopeful. One NFC exec went as far as to say Darnold let him down a little, largely because he ‘loved the guy’ coming out of college.”
Sam has probably let a lot of folks in the game down, as he’s thrown just 54 touchdowns to 52 interceptions (along with 29 fumbles) in 50 career games. He certainly wasn’t the answer in New York, who has since pivoted to Zach Wilson, and he likely won’t be it in Carolina either.
But is there some hope left? Fowler continued:
“‘Even though it didn’t work out last year, that’s still not a bad move for Carolina,’ added a separate NFC exec. “His story isn’t totally written.”
A story that’s almost written up there as well is the one of offensive lineman Cameron Erving. Like Darnold, Erving joined the team last spring in hopes of solidifying of premium position and, well, just hasn’t.
The Florida State Seminole was plucked from the 2015 draft by the Cleveland Browns with the 19th overall pick and lands himself next to his current quarterback on this list.
“‘He never really got to settle down in one spot,’ an AFC executive said. ‘Cleveland probably wasn’t the best spot for him. Too much transition there. There were some toughness questions, but he could have overcome those.'”
Erving has suited up for four teams over his seven professional seasons. Unfortunately for him, he probably won’t get to settle down in Charlotte either, as the Panthers have clearly moved on in trying to find more than just a bandage for their blindside.
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