ESPN ranks Carolina Panthers 18th worst offseason of 2022

The team over at ESPN has released their rankings of NFL franchises’ offseasons, and they have the Carolina Panthers as one of the teams with the worst offseasons. ESPN ranks the Panthers 18 out of 32 teams, putting them in the middle but in the bottom half of the rankings.

There is one thing that primarily has Carolina in the bottom half: their quarterback situation. It’s not like the Panthers did not try to address their quarterback woes as they attempted to trade for Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson. However, both quarterbacks landed in Denver and Cleveland, respectively. Carolina also had a plan to land Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but he elected to stay with the franchise that drafted him.

Carolina settled for a consolation prize at quarterback and drafted Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Corral is a bit undersized for the position but has tremendous upside potential.

The Panthers aren’t out of the quarterback market just yet. Recently they have been linked to the Browns’ Baker Mayfield and the 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo but have yet to make a move for either quarterback. A recent report came out that Carolina does not have an interest in paying the fully guaranteed 18 million that remains on Mayfield’s contract, which is stopping a deal from happening.

Panthers remain interested in trading for Baker Mayfield, Jimmy Garoppolo

The Carolina Panthers in Cleveland Browns failed to agree to a trade to send Cleveland’s disgruntled quarterback Baker Mayfield to Carolina. But, just because the two sides could not agree to a trade before does not mean the likelihood of a deal between them is dead. According to a recent report courtesy of the AP’s Steve Reed, the Panthers remain interested in trading for Baker Mayfield and San Fransisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

“As I’ve reported several times, the Panthers are still interested in Mayfield/Garoppolo at QB, but in order for a trade to take place, the other team would have to agree to pick up a large portion of their salary. Nothing has changed on that front for weeks,” wrote Reed via Twitter.

Reed’s report aligns with previous reports that one of the biggest hang-ups on the Panthers trading for either quarterback is the money. The Browns are unwilling to trade Mayfield if the team they are trading him to is unwilling to pick up most, or all, of his $18 million contract for the upcoming season. Head coach Matt Rhule believed that the quarterback position was a need heading into the NFL draft. And they addressed that need in the third round by taking former Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral. However, if Rhule wants to have a successful season and keep his job as Carolina’s head coach, the Panthers might have to work out a trade for either quarterback and take on their contract.