Fitterer Isn't Afraid to 'Take a Shot' in Drafting a QB: 'If You Have Conviction, Go Get Him'

Is this the year the Panthers draft a quarterback in the first round?

The Panthers checked the first box on the offseason list and that was to get a head coach. Now, they'll begin their search for a quarterback (along with filling out a coaching staff). 

Currently, Carolina only has two quarterbacks on the roster, neither of which have any starting experience: Matt Corral and Jacob Eason. The Panthers drafted Corral in the third round of last year's draft and figured to see some action at some point this past season, but a Lisfranc injury in preseason play derailed that plan. 

Eason signed to Carolina's practice squad early in the season and ended up getting in a game when P.J. Walker had to be removed to be checked for a head/neck injury against the Rams. Eason completed 3/5 passes for 59 yards, nearly leading the offense to six before throwing a pick in the end zone. 

Corral could still be an option at QB1 but given the lack of experience and still working his way back from injury, it's almost a certainty that he won't be starting Week 1. 

Carolina will have some decisions to make this offseason at the position and that includes what they want to do with Sam Darnold (UFA) and P.J. Walker (RFA) who are pending free agents. If the team believes drafting a quarterback for the future is the right thing to do in the first round of this year's draft, it makes sense to bring one of those guys back, particularly Darnold. 

However, Carolina could be tempted to trade or sign another veteran QB this offseason to accelerate the timeline of winning football. They tried to do it with Teddy Bridgewater, Darnold, bringing back Cam Newton, and then with Baker Mayfield. Unfortunately, things didn't work out with any of those guys but that doesn't necessarily mean GM Scott Fitterer will turn a blind eye to the veteran route.

"I don't think you ever want to box yourself in and just say hey, we'll go strictly draft. I've always said that's kind of the proper way to do it," Fitterer said. "Draft and develop from a cost effective standpoint. But if we don't believe that guy is there this year, and we haven't even started the process, our scouts have. In an ideal world we would draft and develop."

With the 9th pick in the draft, the Panthers are probably going to have to move up the board if they want one of the top QBs in this class such as Bryce Young (Alabama), C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), or Will Levis (Kentucky). They could stay put at nine and take on a project in Anthony Richardson (Florida), but I'm not sure that's the route they want to go at this point. 

Thanks to the Christian McCaffrey trade, Carolina now has the assets to go up and get their guy if they so choose. If the Panthers do happen to fall in love with one of these quarterbacks, Fitterer won't hesitate to pick up the phone and make a deal to get in better drafting position.

"I think you've got to have conviction. If there's a guy in this class that you like, you got to go up and go get him. We're in a position now where we have a defense, we have an offensive line. We built around this for this opportunity. So if you have conviction, go get him. If not, you don't want to force it. You don't want to take a player and pass on a really good player, that might set you back. But you can't be afraid to take a shot if you believe that's the guy."

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