So, uh, maybe the Carolina Panthers aren’t looking to offload quarterback Sam Darnold just yet.
Earlier this morning, Benjamin Allbright reported that the team was shopping the fifth-year passer—a task made difficult by his weighty $18.8 million guaranteed salary on the season. Now, according to multiple writers close to the organization, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
I’m told the Panthers are NOT shopping QB Sam Darnold.
(Despite Twitter rumors.)
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) August 8, 2022
The Panthers are not shopping QB Sam Darnold, according to multiple league sources. Before camp began, Darnold said he has not asked for a trade because he is “not in a position to do that” and that is not who he is.
— Ellis L. Williams (@BookofEllis) August 8, 2022
Lots of talk out there about the Panthers shopping Sam Darnold. I’m told it’s not accurate. I’m sure they would listen, as Scott Fitterer does on everyone. But that $18.8M is going to be tough to move.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) August 8, 2022
Additionally, Allbright has since deleted his initial tweet and said that a league source strongly denied any such activity from the Panthers.
League source called countering earlier sourcing, strongly denies team making calls shopping Darnold. https://t.co/wAkUmaqjoC
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) August 8, 2022
Darnold, despite his less-than-stellar 2021 campaign, is currently in the midst of a quarterback competition with Baker Mayfield. So given his underwhelming track record and the belief that Mayfield is the clear favorite to land the starting job under center, it would make sense for Carolina to move the former third overall pick.
But that, again, would be a particularly difficult task with that $18.8 million tag. The Panthers, as they did with the Cleveland Browns in acquiring Mayfield, would have to make the pot extremely sweet to get any potential buyers to bite.
