Welcome to our offseason series detailing the Panthers offseason needs and how they might address them. Be it through the draft, free agency, or the answer being “on the roster”, the Panthers will need to fill holes all across their roster to field a full 53 heading into 2018. No matter how set the Panthers may seem at a position, there is no reason why the Panthers can’t constantly get better; that will start with an open and honest evaluation of who is on the roster currently, how they performed in 2017 and whether those players will be returning.
The Panthers quarterback situation is a constant source of intrigue, astonishment and scrutiny; while opinions vary wildly, it is certainly true that in 2018 the Panthers will go as far as Cam Newton takes them. It is fitting that we start at the position where the starter is firmly entrenched, but there is still work to be done behind #1.
The Headline
Cam Newton’s season didn’t get off to the fastest start, with his recovery from surgery continuing into the regular season. A thumb injury and possible illness led to some inconsistent performances in more recent times later in the season and injuries to Ryan Kalil, Trai Turner, Greg Olsen and half the receiver corps have made it difficult for the offense, and by extension, Newton, to perform at a consistently high level throughout much of the season. With that being said, the Panthers should be in absolutely no doubt that they have in Newton one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
While he does have his issues, he is arguably a top-three pure passer in the NFL right now; his ability to carry the ball adds another dimension to the offense as well as adding a crucial edge in the red zone. Through seven seasons, his numbers are up there with any quarterback from history despite never having played in an offense stacked with surrounding talent. 2017 might not have been his most memorable year but Newton still produced 28 touchdowns (seventh in the NFL) to 17 turnovers. The fact that ranking seventh in the NFL in touchdowns is seen as a disappointing season for Newton is telling of just how good he has been.
In terms of looking forward, the Panthers can feel highly encouraged that in the two games before Curtis Samuel went down, Newton put up nearly 600 yards, five total touchdowns and no turnovers. There are of course areas where Newton could, and should, look to improve. He sometimes seems hesitant to pull the trigger, which can slow down his progressions and occasionally causes him to miss open receivers; however, looking back on earlier tape, 2012 in particular, this seems to be more adjustment than inability. If the Panthers can emphasize getting the ball out of Newtons hands more quickly, he has shown in the past that he is able to have success in a more quick-hitting offense.
Newton was good in 2017, but if he can start next season healthy and the Panthers can do a better job of supporting him both in terms of coaching and personnel then the has every chance of being great in 2018.
The Veteran
Derek Anderson will be 35 when the 2018 season starts, and while a number of starting quarterbacks in the NFL are beyond him in years, there will come a point where the Panthers need to move on from Anderson; the question is whether that point is now. Anderson attempted just eight passes during the regular season, completing two of them for 17 yards. It is hard to make any conclusions based on eight pass attempts, but it is certainly true that Anderson hardly looked impressive during the 2017 preseason. On 40 pass attempts he managed just 240 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
What is unavoidable is that Anderson is declining. Having looked like one of the best backups in the NFL in 2014, his performances during both the preseason and in place of Newton over the past two seasons have been far less impressive. It would not be hugely surprising, given his age, if Anderson decided to retire following this season; he will almost certainly be looking at far less than the $2.25 million he earned in 2017 should he hit the open market.
In terms of the Panthers interest in resigning Anderson, another thing to note is scheme suitability, and his lack of it. With the Panthers’ offense relying quite heavily on quarterback mobility, it is somewhat surprising that Anderson has remained as the primary backup despite being primarily a pocket passer. The Panthers will almost certainly carry four quarterbacks into training camp and Anderson could very well be back at the right price, but the days of him being the unquestioned number two are almost certainly over.
The Other Guy
Garrett Gilbert might not have been the biggest name in training camp last summer, but the former SMU quarterback played well enough to make Joe Webb expendable and may have made a good enough case to be considered the second-best quarterback on the roster. What’s more, Gilbert’s mobility makes him a good scheme fit; as he is under contract through 2018 at minimal expense, it would be surprising if he was not with the Panthers come training camp. He probably isn’t guaranteed a roster spot at this stage, and the Panthers’ early-season experiment with Brad Kaaya shows they are far from set on Gilbert, but it would hard to imagine him not factoring in the battle for the backup quarterback spot come training camp.
Outlook
Newton is the unquestioned starter, but everything behind him is totally up in the air. The Panthers will almost certainly look to either add a quarterback in free agency, albeit at limited expense, resign Anderson for a low dollar amount, or look to bring someone in either in the later rounds of the draft or as an undrafted free agent. Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that given the contract situation, the Panthers cannot afford to spend significant money on quarterback depth.
Offseason Priority: Low
