Both Ohio State and Alabama are holding their respective pro days, today. These two programs are producing two of the top five quarterbacks in this class: Justin Fields and Mac Jones. The Panthers are sending people to watch both throw.
According to Joe Person at the Athletic, coach Matt Rhule and general manager Scott Fitterer will be watching Fields at Ohio State, while offensive coordinator Joe Brady is on hand in Tuscaloosa for Jones.
With Matt Rhule and Scott Fitterer at Justin Fields’ pro day, Joe Brady is in Tuscaloosa today for Mac Jones’, per source.
Wrote about Panthers’ QB options on Friday. Offer stands: Still a buck.https://t.co/9lLXxSddsq
— Joe Person (@josephperson) March 30, 2021
Carolina has already watched Zach Wilson and Trey Lance throw at their pro day sessions. However, it seems like those two and Trevor Lawrence will be taken in the draft’s top three picks.
Wilson wowed observers with his arm strength at BYU’s pro day, all but locking him in for the Jets at No. 2 overall. Meanwhile, the Jaguars aren’t even pretending that they’re interested in anybody but Lawrence. Urban Meyer admits the Jags are leaning that way and the team is hinting at a meet-the-pick event which traced Lawrence’s frame as a cover model.
The 49ers might pick either Lance or Fields, but right now the consensus seems to be that Kyle Shanahan wants Lance.
That means if the Panthers are able to get a top-five QB this year, it will most likely either by Fields or Jones.
So, which do they prefer?
According to former Carolina beat writer Jourdan Rodrigue, the Panthers’ brass “likes” Mac Jones, but “loves” Fields. The Athletic also recently reported the buzz is they don’t see Jones as a top-10 pick.
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