In just a few hours, the Carolina Panthers will officially be done with the 2021 season and on to 2022. While the season didn’t go as planned, Carolina still has one more game before they formally start preparing for the upcoming season. Even though this game has no meaning beyond draft status, there are still plenty of things to watch for in Carolina’s season finale.
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Carolina Panthers Season Finale: What to Watch For
Sam Darnold
The two most important parts of any good foundation are a head coach and a quarterback. With reports that Matt Rhule will be back in 2022, Carolina’s entire offseason focus should be on the quarterback position.
The #Panthers plan on keeping HC Matt Rhule for next season per @JFowlerESPN pic.twitter.com/m3arloP2q7
— PFF (@PFF) January 8, 2022
Sam Darnold is not the long-term answer under center. After three poor seasons in the Big Apple, Darnold continued his woeful play and proved that the New York Jets weren’t solely responsible for his lack of NFL success.
The Panthers guaranteed Darnold’s fifth-year contract before the start of the season, so somebody is going to be paying him big money next year. However, that team might not be the Panthers. If Darnold can put up a good game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then perhaps another team would look at him as a possible bridge quarterback. The 2022 quarterback draft class is supposed to be weak, so perhaps a team with quarterback needs picking in the back of the first would be willing to give up a late pick to secure Darnold’s services.
Wide Receiver Breakout
D.J. Moore is a superstar, but the rest of the depth chart leaves a lot to be desired. Terrace Marshall will not suit up thanks to a foot injury, and the rookie hasn’t exactly done anything to inspire confidence in the first place. Shi Smith, who has shown one or two flashes, probably won’t play thanks to COVID-19.
This leaves Brandon Zylstra and Alex Erickson as the only healthy receivers on the roster, with Keith Kirkwood, Willie Snead, and C.J. Saunders as potential practice squad call-ups. Now, chances are, all of these players are past the point where they could turn into a consistent part of an NFL passing attack. However, it would be nice to see one of the younger guys step up in a big moment and possibly earn a role as a depth option on the 2022 Carolina Panthers.
Brandon Zylstra's first NFL touchdown!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/ZdTIKagbcT
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 19, 2021
Last Game With Cam Newton
It is clear that Cam Newton is not the player he once was. That much was evident during his lone year in New England, but his return to Carolina showed that he can barely play at a backup level. Yes, he could probably be better with an entire offseason to actually learn the playbook, but it’s clear that all the hits have placed a ceiling on just how good he can be.
Newton is a free agent and, chances are, will not be back in Carolina next year. Whether or not he lands a job somewhere else is to be determined, but the fact remains that this will likely be the last time he suits up for the Carolina Panthers.
Sam Darnold will start, but Newton will likely see the field in short-yardage and goal line situations. This isn’t the end that anyone wanted for Newton, but seeing the best quarterback in team history suit up one last time is worth the price of admission.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
