Carolina Panthers: Backup quarterback must be addressed
The Carolina Panthers have a franchise quarterback in Cam Newton, but they lack depth behind him at a time when it’s vital to have insurance.
The Carolina Panthers are heading into a season with building expectations. After a 2015 Super Bowl run, Carolina has struggled to find consistent success. Cam Newton has solidified himself as the franchise quarterback, but he’s poised to enter this season with one key difference; no true veteran backup on the bench. This is an important turn of events for this team as they must have a viable backup on the roster if the disaster occurs.
Derek Anderson, Jimmy Clausen and some other experienced players have served as Newton’s backup since he joined the league in 2011. From that point forward, he took the reins of the organization and has developed into one of the most threatening quarterbacks for opposing defenses to play against.
Thankfully, Newton has not had to deal with major injury problems. Since 2011, he’s missed only three games and that’s a telling stat when you look at his physical level of play. As team’s get more attuned to playing against Newton — using physicality to attempt to limit his dynamic playmaking — one must wonder if he can remain completely healthy through a season.
That brings up the question as to who are Newton’s backups coming into this season. Garrett Gilbert and Taylor Heinicke are the two men tasked with being the backup quarterback and both of them are relatively inexperienced at this level of football.
Gilbert has been a part of the NFL since he was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2014 as a sixth-round pick. Since then, he has not thrown a pass in an official game. During his career, he has been a part of multiple teams such as the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, along with the Rams. Carolina picked him up 2017 as he was added to the practice squad.
Heinicke has even less time in the league than Gilbert, but he’s actually done something that Gilbert has never experienced: thrown at least one pass during an actual game. That occurred in 2017 when he stepped in for Newton who was taken out for a few plays due to injury concerns. Heinicke’s professional career has seen him on the roster of the Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots and the Houston Texans before being picked up by Carolina this past April.
Neither of these two players creates a lot of “excitement” as to whether or not the Panthers are prepared for the next season when it comes their backup position. There are a number of players that are available, for example Colin Kaepernick, that could be picked up for a one year deal. Bringing in a player such as Kaepernick is a move that opens up a debate of its own, but he is just one name that should be discussed when working to beef up Carolina’s backup roster.
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When looking at a NFL roster, it’s imperative for teams to have a backup quarterback that can step in on a moment’s notice. The Carolina Panthers do not have that at this time. With some weeks left before the start of the new season, it’s important that the team finds a true back up option to give them team insurance behind Newton.