This could happen

It makes sense.

Talking about Sam Darnold possibly being traded to the Carolina Panthers.

I talked to a league source on Wednesday who told me that he’s hearing that Darnold to Carolina is a strong possibility, and that he was hearing that a second or third round pick in return is very possible.

Look, I’m not guaranteeing anything, just telling you what a good source told me.

Obviously a big factor in a Darnold trade to Carolina would be the presence of Robby Anderson on the Panthers. So Darnold would arrive in Carolina with strong chemistry with one of the Panthers’ top wide receivers, a former Jets teammate.

This angle can’t be minimized.

Also, the Panthers have a cerebral, innovative young offensive coordinator in Joe Brady, who did an incredible job as the LSU offensive coordinator during their national championship two years ago, helping Joe Burrow have perhaps the greatest season for a QB in college football history.

Darnold needs to play for a a erudite, cutting-edge offensive coordinator who can consistently dial up brilliant first reads, so he can go out there and do this thing.

Because we know when the play-calling dials up ideal first reads, whether it’s from the pocket, or on the move, this guy can be an electric player.

So Joe Brady and Darnold could be a really good marriage.

And something else Darnold needs to succeed is a strong defense, so he doesn’t have to win shoot-outs, a defense that can keep the score manageable. Femember last year, every single Panthers draft pick was on defense, including two of that draft’s top defensive linemen, Auburn’s Derrick Brown and Penn State’s Yatur Gross-Matos.

Then this year, so far in free agency, they added a good pass rusher, Hasson Reddick (Carolina Panthers), one of the hardest hitting linebackers in football, Denzel Perryman (Los Angeles Chargers), and an underrated DE, former Los Angeles Ram, Morgan Fox. Reddick played for Panthers coach Matt Rhule at Temple.

And speaking of Rhule, the Panthers coach is known as a very good defensive strategist.

So expect the Panthers defense to take a big leap in 2021 with all those rookie defenders from last year now comfortable in the NFL, and with those three key free agents additions.

So special young player-caller who can dial up great first-reads for Darnold, a defense that looks like it will be very good to keep the score manageable, sounds like Darnold is a good fit in Carolina.

And let’s not forget, Darnold is very affordable this year on the fourth-year of his rookie contract.

You get the sense that while the Panther like Teddy Bridgewater, he’s a very conservative quarterback, known for dinking and dunking, and clearly they want a little more play-making ability at the QB position.

And even with some of his shortcomings, Darnold has shown electrifying play-making ability at times, with his legs and arms.

Look, I have no idea what is going to happen with Darnold, but the source I talked to feels strongly that Carolina is the landing spot.

April 1, 2021

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