The Panthers made a critical decision at the quarterback position during the 2020 offseason when they decided to move on from longtime starter Cam Newton.
Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP, had struggled with injuries in the previous season and appeared to be regressing even before that. So, the Panthers parted with him and elected to sign Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year deal worth $20 million annually.
The hope was that Bridgewater — once a starter for the Vikings and still just 27 — would be able to thrive in a starting role in Carolina.
Instead, the Panthers found themselves searching for greener pastures in each of the next two offseasons. They traded for Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, but those moves proved to be half-measures at best and failures at worst.
Now, the Panthers are looking for their fifth different Week 1 starter in as many seasons. Luckily, they will have plenty of options in what figures to be another offseason of quarterback movement.
What are Carolina's best options at quarterback? Here's a ranking of the signal-callers that the Panthers could pursue.
OTHER TEAMS' QB OPTION RANKINGS: Jets | Raiders
Panthers QB options for 2023, ranked
1. Trade for Lamar Jackson
Trading for Jackson might not be possible for the Panthers. Jackson isn't likely to be traded at all by the Ravens.
That said, if Jackson and Baltimore reach an impasse on a new contract, then there's little doubt that David Tepper and the Panthers would take a swing. They have chased numerous top-tier quarterbacks since Tepper bought the team in 2018, and Jackson would have more upside than any other passer on the market by a wide margin.
Jackson would add another dynamic running element to a Carolina team that performed well on the ground even after trading Christian McCaffrey last season. Add in that Jackson is still just 26, and he looks like a perfect option to help the Panthers gradually grow into a contender.
What's the problem with this deal? The Panthers already are $7.7 million over the cap and have $28.5 million in dead cap hits in 2023 season. They could restructure contracts to mitigate that, but it would complicate any deal. And twisting the cap while giving up a lot of draft resources may not be the best course of action for a team that still has plenty of needs on offense.
MORE: What the Todd Monken hire means for Lamar Jackson, Ravens
2. Draft Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud or Will Levis
The Panthers are armed with the No. 9 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. That will put them in position to land one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft and build around him while he is on a coveted rookie deal.
Young, Stroud and Levis figure to be the quarterbacks selected in the top 10 of this draft. There's no guarantee that any will make it to Carolina's selection, but the Panthers could be aggressive and move up if they really like any of them. And considering that the Bears — who already have Justin Fields — possess the No. 1 pick, the Panthers could have the option to get the quarterback of their choice.
Some may shy away from surrendering resources to acquire an unproven quarterback. General manager Scott Fitterer isn't likely among them. So, don't rule out the Panthers for Young or Stroud, even if they look like potential top-five picks. And at the very least, Levis could be in the mix at No. 9.
NFL MOCK DRAFT: Panthers land QB with first-round selection
3. Trade for Aaron Rodgers
Some brows may furrow seeing Rodgers' name below that of an unproven rookie. What gives? Well, the issue isn't about Rodgers' talent as it is his age.
Rodgers is 39 and seems to be contemplating retirement. The Panthers need to ask themselves in any potential trade with the Packers how long he would keep playing. Is it one year? Two years? More? Without a clear answer, it's hard to recommend Rodgers as a top option.
Things would be different if the Panthers were a quarterback away from contending, but they aren't. Sure, they could make a playoff run thanks to their position in the weak NFC South, but they still have several holes to plug on offense before they are ready to compete for a Super Bowl.
The Panthers should still consider Rodgers because he would provide the team with an immense upgrade at quarterback. But he would not make them a slam-dunk contender.
MORE: Latest news, updates, rumors about Aaron Rodgers' status with the Packers
4. Sign Derek Carr
Frankly, you could make the case that signing Carr would be better for the Panthers than trading for Rodgers. Carr isn't as talented as Rodgers, but he is a free agent who would come much cheaper than the four-time MVP.
At this point in his career, the 32-year-old Carr is what he is. He's a solid starter who can have big games but also struggles with turnovers. He might end up being similar to what new coach Frank Reich had during his final few seasons in Indianapolis, and that could scare the Panthers off Carr.
Still, there's no denying that Carr would be an upgrade over what Carolina had last season. And perhaps moving on from Josh McDaniels' offense could make Carr more like the guy who completed 68.7 percent of his passes from 2018-21. Under McDaniels in 2022, Carr completed 60.8 percent of his passes, the second-worst mark of his career.
Is Carr a sexy pickup? Probably not. But is he an upgrade over the Mayfield-Darnold-P.J. Walker room the Panthers had last season? Yes. And that could be just enough to get Carolina into the postseason.
MORE: Jets, Saints among top potential landing spots for Derek Carr
5. Sign Jimmy Garoppolo
Garoppolo is a lot like Carr in that he is a solid, but unspectacular, quarterback who would provide the Panthers with a big upgrade. He also would come cheaper than Jackson and Rodgers and wouldn't cost any draft assets.
The big difference between Garoppolo and Carr is that the former has led his teams on a couple of deep playoff runs. Remember, the 49ers were in a tight battle with the Chiefs in the 2020 Super Bowl before Patrick Mahomes and Co. pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Of course, the other big difference is that Garoppolo was in the most quarterback-friendly offense in the NFL. It made Brock Purdy look like the second coming of Tom Brady until he tore his UCL. So, there is some risk that Garoppolo could regress if removed from Kyle Shanahan's system.
Still, Garoppolo would give the Panthers a chance to compete for the NFC South title. He may be more of a bridge quarterback, but at 31, he is still young enough to be a multi-year starter. That would buy the Panthers time to tinker with their roster before eventually finding their preferred successor at quarterback.
MORE: How Tom Brady's retirement impacts 49ers, potential Jimmy Garoppolo reunion
6. Draft Anthony Richardson
Richardson is one of the more polarizing quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class. The Florida product has great mobility and a cannon of an arm that allows him to make big plays. The problem is that his accuracy is fleeting, as he completed just 53.8 percent of his passes in 2022 while throwing 17 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions.
Richardson well may be a fine fit in Reich's offense, and Carolina's talent evaluators may see shades of Cam Newton when the 6-4, 236-pounder is on the move. But the reason he checks in so low on this list is that he is a true boom-or-bust prospect. And if he is a bust, that could doom the brain trust of Reich and Fitterer.
So, should Richardson draw consideration for the Panthers at No. 9? Absolutely. But should he unequivocally be their pick if the other three quarterbacks come off the board? Not necessarily.
The team drafting Richardson needs to have patience. Carolina hasn't demonstrated any with Tepper in charge.
7. Sign Jacoby Brissett
For all the hullabaloo around Deshaun Watson being an improvement at quarterback for the Browns, Brissett played better in 2022. The journeyman fared well as the starter during Watson's 11-game suspension, and his per-start numbers were largely better than Watson's.
| Stat | Brissett | Watson |
| Completion percentage | 64.0 | 58.2 |
| Passing yards | 163.0 | 183.7 |
| Passing TDs | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| Interceptions | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| Yards per attempt | 7.1 | 6.5 |
| Passer rating | 88.9 | 79.1 |
| QBR | 59.9 | 38.3 |
| PFF grade | 82.6 (6th of 39) | 55.3 (35th of 39) |
All that is to say that Brissett is better than most give him credit for, and in the right situation he can be a quality starter.
Would that work in Carolina? He certainly wouldn't be a bad option. However, it would still feel like a half-measure to fix the position — similar to the Bridgewater signing and the trades for Darnold and Mayfield.
So, the Panthers probably wouldn't be happy landing only Brissett. They would also need to land a youngster with upside to learn behind him.
8. Re-sign Sam Darnold
Darnold was an afterthought early in the season as he dealt with an ankle injury, but he eventually returned to the field and earned some late-season starts. He did well, posting a 4-2 record while throwing seven touchdowns compared to just three interceptions.
Certainly, Darnold showed growth during that time. He nearly got the Panthers into the playoffs, and he won't turn 26 until June.
So, why is he the bottom-barrel option on this list? Well, like signing Brissett, re-signing Darnold alone doesn't necessarily guarantee the Panthers would be a playoff team. And unlike a Brissett signing, there isn't even a guarantee that the Panthers get better if they bring Darnold back.
Pairing Darnold with a young quarterback or even signing him as a top backup could pan out. But if he ends up being the team's Plan A at quarterback this year, the Panthers aren't likely to take the step forward that a quarterback upgrade would provide them.
