Panthers 2021 QB review: Can Sam Darnold turn his career around?

Last year, the Carolina Panthers had the most roster turnover in the NFL. This year isn’t much different. Highlighted by a new quarterback and a slew of changes on the defensive side of the ball, multiple positions on the team have seen significant changes in the 2021 offseason.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll take a look at each position on the Panthers 2021 squad, evaluating the changes since 2020 and projecting the unit’s outlook for this season. We’ll start with the signal-callers on offense: the quarterbacks.

Major changes: A new starter

The Panthers have a new starting quarterback… again. After just one season with Teddy Bridgewater calling the shots, Carolina moved in a new direction and traded the 28-year-old veteran to the Denver Broncos. For their second attempt at finding a franchise quarterback in the post-Cam Newton era, they traded for the young but struggling leader of the New York Jets, Sam Darnold. Other than that, much of the quarterback room has remained the same. We project that P.J. Walker will remain the primary backup for the Panthers, while Will Grier may face training camp competition for the third quarterback spot, should the team opt to keep three of them around.

The big question: Can Sam Darnold turn his career around?

It’s no secret that the first few years of Darnold’s career didn’t go as planned. After being selected by the Jets with the third overall pick in 2018, Darnold went 13-25 as a starter, throwing nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns. After bring under the microscope in a huge media market, a fresh start might be exactly what the fourth-year quarterback needs in this next stage of his career.

Even though the Carolinas are a smaller market, the pressure on Sam Darnold will still be high. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to proclaim that the franchise’s success for the next few years could lie on Darnold’s performance. Luckily, he seems to already be winning over key players in the locker room. From reuniting with Robby Anderson to dining out with Christian McCaffrey, Darnold has been getting a headstart on building chemistry with his playmakers. Teddy did the same thing, though and it will be Darnold’s on-the-field performance that determines the length of his stay in Carolina. He’ll need a good one to avoid the same fate as Bridgewater.

Better or worse? Toss-up

This might be the position with the most questions on the roster this season. However, in the quest to find a true QB1, a struggling young passer with potential upside is likely better than an aging veteran whose potential is capped at being one of the league’s top backups. Walker can be expected to grow as a No. 2 option in his second year with the team, so there is a high chance of a marginal upgrade there. Still, Darnold’s performance is what will make or break this QB room in 2021.