The Panthers aren’t tanking. No less than, that’s what basic supervisor Scott Fitterer is saying.
Hours after his crew traded star working again Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers, the GM mentioned it didn't mark the start of a teardown with the intention of the No. 1 decide within the 2023 NFL Draft.
“We needed to determine what’s finest for the group,” Fitterer mentioned on Friday. “Our focus continues to be going out and competing each weekend. We count on to win.”
It’s been a season filled with strikes for the Panthers, who acquired quarterback Baker Mayfield forward of coaching camp, solely to see him rapidly wrestle because the starter earlier than being sidelined by harm. The crew additionally fired coach Matt Rhule after a 1-4 begin.
Issues in Carolina obtained even weirder this week when receiver Robby Anderson was kicked out of Week 6’s loss to the Rams by interim coach Steve Wilks, solely to be traded to Arizona.
Information of the blockbuster McCaffrey commerce — which netted the Panthers San Francisco’s second, third and fouth-round picks in 2023 and a fifth-rounder in 2024 — opens up plenty of potentialities for Carolina, together with buying and selling as much as the highest choice.
The swap additionally cleared the Panthers of McCaffrey’s 2023 and 2024 wage cap hits of roughly $19.5 million and $14.5 million for 2025.
Wilks agreed along with his boss’ anti-tanking notion.
“There’s no such factor as tanking in the case of myself or the lads in that locker room,” he mentioned.
Fitterer hinted at the opportunity of one other deal earlier than the Nov. 1 commerce deadline however added that it might take an “astronomical” deal to get one thing finished.
Regardless of that, the GM has now restocked his draft picks after having solely 4 picks in 2023 and 5 in 2024. Along with the alternatives acquired within the McCaffrey deal, the commerce of Anderson introduced within the Cardinals’ 2024 sixth-round and 2025 seventh-round picks.
“It offers plenty of choices with that quantity of picks,” mentioned Fitterer, who, if the season ended at present, would have the highest decide. “If we don’t have to maneuver up, it provides plenty of photographs on gamers.”
One shot the Panthers might wish to goal in 2023 is a quarterback. Neither Mayfield nor Sam Darnold appear to be long-term choices and are at present each injured, whereas 2022 second-round decide Matt Corral suffered a season-ending foot harm in the course of the preseason.
The Panthers will host division rival Tampa Bay on Sunday, trying to get Wilks his first win as head coach.
Post a Comment