USAT: Panthers Wire audio clip

USAT: Panthers Wire

Feb 17, 2022

The Carolina Panthers may have to look far and wide for an answer to their quarterback conundrum. But how far and wide will they be able to look if their options continue to dwindle? - This offseason’s handful of once-thought-to-be available passers don’t seem to be going anywhere—or at least to Carolina. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are kissing and making up (hopefully with masks), the Raiders’ hiring of head coach Josh McDaniels may give Derek Carr a longer leash in Las Vegas and Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson—if moved—probably aren’t planning on okaying a deal to a struggling franchise. - Now, two more possible options for the Panthers might be following suit. According to The MMQB senior NFL reporter Albert Breer, the Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings may very well look to keep their veteran quarterbacks despite recent rumblings. - In the case of the former squad and Carson Wentz, Breer believes a number of factors could ultimately go into the decision to hold on to the 29-year-old. Even after a disappointing 2020, Wentz’s $15 million guarantee—as well as Indianapolis’ limited escape routes—may just lead to the team bringing him back on a “cut salary.” - As for Minnesota, Breer thinks Cousins (like his whopping $35 million base salary) will be guaranteed a spot in 2022. - “I think they’re [Vikings] going to hang onto him for the same reason the Colts might hold on to Wentz, though Cousins has certainly been the better quarterback of late—they have him under contract for this year, he knows the system new coach Kevin O’Connell is bringing in and his money makes it so even if they wanted to move him, it’d be pretty difficult to do so,” Breer writes. - The Panthers are more than just a quarterback away from being a legitimate contender. And if that’s the case, Wentz or Cousins won’t be the ones to potentially disprove that theory. - But Carolina could be missing out on a beneficial salary dump for one of the two—in which they’d likely look to recoup some lost draft capital in exchange for taking on an undesirable contract. Alas, the search will continue and, perhaps, end with—you guessed it—Jimmy Garoppolo. - “So if the Panthers can’t get a guy like Watson to come and don’t like the quarterbacks in the draft class?” Breer added in his piece when asked of Carolina’s outlook. “We’re probably going to be talking about someone like Garoppolo.” - - RelatedPanthers prepared to 'take a major swing' at QB positionDo Panthers, Ben McAdoo have a potential fit in Jimmy Garoppolo? - - List - - Panthers 2022 NFL mock draft 2.0: Senior Bowl edition - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Panthers Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Panthers Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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