When the middling Carolina Panthers have control of the NFL Draft board with the No. 6 pick on Thursday in Las Vegas, their third-year head coach won't be feeling extreme pressure from ownership while inside the war room. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, owner David Tepper gave a vote of confidence to Matt Rhule, who's won just 10 games across the past two seasons in Carolina.
Tepper also defended quarterback Sam Darnold, who was acquired in a trade last spring after a ghastly three-year stint with the New York Jets. But Carolina is still in a precarious position, as they're lacking a true franchise quarterback. They could address the issue with the sixth overall pick on Thursday, and take a chance on a top-rated prospect. Or, they could remain in the market for one established passer, like Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo. A tricky dilemma.
"Based on conversations, they're more interested in Jimmy Garoppolo. I think it's league-wide," Panthers reporter Ellis Williams explained to After Hours with Amy Lawrence on Thursday. "There's more faith in what Garoppolo can be -- even outside of a Kyle Shanahan offense. But the shoulder injury is delaying any movement from Garoppolo. And Mayfield, I talked to one scout who said Baker would really thrive in [Panthers coordinator] Ben McAdoo's offense...
"Jimmy would thrive pre-snap, McAdoo allows his quarterbacks to have some freedom and pick their matchups at the line of scrimmage and get the ball out quickly... Point being, both those guys, and you'd think especially with Jimmy, you could get that turnover number cut in half -- if not better. And then, all of the sudden, you're at least a .500 football team. Because this team really just beat themselves far too often last year."
Mayfield's 2021 season with the Cleveland Browns was a headache. For over three months, he played with a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, and he underwent successful surgery to repair the injury in mid-January. Because of nagging issues with his shoulder, knee, and foot, the 27-year-old threw for only 3,010 yards with 17 touchdowns, 13 picks , and a career-low 35.1 QBR in 14 games. Cleveland exercised the fifth-year option on Mayfield, and he's set to make $18.8 million in 2022.
As for Garoppolo -- who battled injuries to his throwing thumb and shoulder last season -- his 2022 role with the San Francisco 49ers remains uncertain. In five seasons as their starter, the 30-year-old veteran has compiled a 31–14 record, and amassed 11,162 yards with 66 touchdowns, 38 interceptions, and a 98.3 passer rating. Garoppolo helped the 49ers earn an NFC wild-card spot in 2021, and reach the conference championship. Last month, he underwent shoulder surgery, and he believes he'll be ready for training camp.
The entire Panthers conversation between Williams and Lawrence can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow After Hours With Amy Lawrence on Twitter @ALawRadio and @AfterHoursCBS, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.