Teddy Bridgewater trade should not change Panthers’ plans at QB for the draft

Dealing Bridgewater shouldn’t change the Panthers’ plans going into the draft, even after acquiring Darnold a few weeks ago.

Teddy Bridgewater is on his way to his fifth team since getting drafted. Earlier today, the Panthers agreed to send their former starting quarterback to the Broncos for a sixth-round draft pick. Carolina also agreed to pay the majority of Bridgewater’s salary this year.

With Teddy officially out of the picture, the QB depth chart looks something like this:

  • Sam Darnold
  • P.J. Walker
  • Tommy Stevens
  • Will Grier

Dealing Bridgewater shouldn’t change the Panthers’ plans going into the draft, even after acquiring Darnold a few weeks ago.

Whether or not Carolina picks a QB this year almost entirely depends on how far one prospect falls.

If the Panthers have a guy in this class, it’s likely Justin Fields of Ohio State. There’s always a chance that a team like the Patriots or the Bears could move up and leapfrog Carolina to get him, but Fields falling to No. 8 doesn’t seem like a crazy scenario.

If Fields is there, the Panthers have to take a chance on his potential, even if it makes the Darnold trade look like a dumb panic move (it was anyway, but that’s a story for another day).

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