Ranking Derek Carr top 5 landing spots in 2023 following his release

No. 1 potential landing spot for Derek Carr in 2023 – Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers pushed the reset button when they fired Matt Rhule in the middle of the 2022 season. While interim head coach Steven Wilks proved to be a more than capable replacement and should have gotten the job on a full-time basis, the Panthers ultimately went with Frank Reich, who is no consolation prize.

It’s true that Reich’s tenure with the Indianapolis Colts didn’t finish on a good note but will have a chance to start from scratch in Carolina. Back in Indy, he squeezed one good season out of an aging Philip Rivers and got the most out of Jacoby Brissett when Andrew Luck unexpectedly retired just before the start of the 2019 regular season.

One of Reich’s biggest mistakes in Indianapolis was pounding the table for Carson Wentz and believing he could turn him back into the quarterback he was early in his career. At this point in their respective careers, Carr is better than either Wentz or Matt Ryan, the Colts’ starting quarterback last season. In fact, Carr would be the most talented signal-caller Reich has worked with since Luck.

The Panthers have put together an All-Star staff. Besides hiring Reich, they brought in Duce Staley as their running backs coach and assistant head coach. Jim Caldwell will be their offensive coordinator and Ejiro Evero will oversee their defense. If they can somehow sign Carr, they will have a realistic shot at winning the NFC South in Reich’s first year at the helm.