The ESPN Upstate Programming Director was given a day off on Friday afternoon during the show - mainly because Adam Schefter of ESPN decided that he wanted the job.
Friday started off like any other day. We had a plethora of topics - the Sweet Sixteen, spring college football details, hot takes on Brad Brownell, UFC breaking news - we were loaded up.
But thanks to some midday Schefty-bombs, many of those topics ended up taking a back seat.
It started when the San Francisco 49ers decided to turn the draft on its head, swapping picks with the Miami Dolphins, shooting themselves up into the third pick of the 2021 draft.
But we were nowhere close to done at that point. Just minutes later, Schefty dropped another one - the Philadelphia Eagles had decided to swap their sixth pick with Miami, moving back to 12 and letting the Dolphins back into the top six.
We're likely not all done with the shake-up of the draft order, as teams will likely respond to this with their own panicked moves, but by the time our show went off the air, Schefter had completed what the draft order looked like - for now.
Now, let's get to the part of this that you care about - where does this leave the Carolina Panthers, sitting at number eight, with Teddy Bridgewater currently listed as QB1 on the depth chart?
Let's start with what will likely happen, assuming the reason the 'Niners traded to third was to bring in a QB - meaning they likely have either Zach Wilson or Justin Fields, or both, graded out as QB1 material.
As it stands, I suspect the draft will kick off with a three quarterback run:
1 - JAX - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
2 - NYJ - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State University
3 - SF - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
If that holds, which I suspect that it will, that leaves two of the top five quarterbacks on the board - Mac Jones of the University of Alabama, and Trey Lance from North Dakota State University.
Earlier this week, it was reported that, despite Matt Rhule's week long interaction with Jones at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, the Panthers did not consider him as worthy of their eighth pick, meaning that Trey Lance might be the guy.
The Panthers also did not send any representatives to Mac Jones Pro Day in Tuscaloosa. But, they did send their GM and Head Coach to North Dakota for Lance's - read into that what you will.
Now, this is all going to be completely subject to change - with three enormous bombs today, there's no guarantee we make it through the rest of even today without another team jumping up into the top five - ATL may not be committed to drafting anyone there, Cincinnati doesn't need a quarterback and might find value in stocking up on picks - and there are teams like Denver who might see the value in Lance to make the move.
But for the sake of discussion, let's assume the top eight stay the same as they are right now - JAX, NYJ, SF, ATL, CIN, MIA, DET, CAR.
If my mental mock (I'm not putting pen to paper - it's a waste of time in the middle of the action we're seeing right now,) I've got to assume that Miami is in the hunt for a QB (although, perhaps not, as the trade picks they've stocked up are impressive and maybe they're Tua believers and are looking to get him some weapons.)
That means Lawrence is off the board at one, Fields at two, and likely, Wilson at no later than six to the 'Fins, but more likely to SF at three.
So what does Carolina do at eight?
Well, they have a few options.
First, they could trade up ahead of Miami - meaning, negotiating a deal with either Atlanta or Cincinnati. I, frankly, don't see that happening. Unless Carolina is willing to sell the farm for Trey Lance - and, for the record, DO NOT DO THAT - Atlanta isn't going to help make a divisional rival better. And if you're going to talk Cincy into pushing back, you're going have to offer the farm, and for what? Trey Lance? I don't love it.
The second option is to drop further back. Denver is looking for a QB, and there are a few other teams that might look up if Lance falls far enough. Moving back to 11, or into the late teens, might garner the Panthers some further draft picks including potentially a first next year. I really don't hate that plan personally - and I'll explain why in just a moment.
The third option here would be to just take the best player that's available at eight. There are a number of spots the Panthers could truly use an upgrade, and there are a handful of players that I really think will be available at eight that would offer them.
First and foremost, whether the QB is Teddy Two-Gloves or Trey Lance or somebody else, the Panthers MUST upgrade the offensive line. Whether they do it early with a start-ready guy or wait until later in the draft, it has to be done, and done now.
If the Panthers stay at eight, they have options. If he's still on the board - and it's unlikely that he will be - Rashawn Slater from Northwestern is a little more versatile, if slightly less talented, than Penei Sewell. If he's not, and Sewell is, that's the obvious pick for me as well.
There are other options there, too. If Kyle Pitts, the TE (or, if I may, WR, to be honest,) is available, he would be a phenomenal weapon, and a mismatch creating monster.
Patrick Surtain II will likely be available, as will be South Carolina's Jaycee Horn - who made so much noise at the Gamecocks Pro Day that some experts are saying he may very well claim the spot as the #1 DB in the draft this year.
Now, if the Panthers decide to go this route, it means that next year will be yet another rebuilding year. and Teddy Bridgewater will be the starting quarterback, while the QB of the Future will play his final season in college this year.
If that is the case, I'm happy with Carolina moving back. First off, you'll still end up with a first round pick. You're likely looking at trading back with a team like Denver, or New England, if Hoodie likes Mac Jones enough to jump ahead of the Broncos and steal him - and have the draft capitol to do it.
This results in players like Horn still being available, lets you stock up on picks for the end of this year and next year to give more weapons to whoever QBFuture is, and while acknowledging the pain of yet another rebuilding year, would give you a lot more capitol to do said rebuilding.
What will Carolina do? It's hard to foresee right now, especially with so many picks being traded and that flurry likely not being over.
But, fortunately, while today may have put Carolina into a tough spot, they have plenty of options. And this is going to get very, very interesting...
