Panthers: Why Carolina must consider taking a QB in the 2021 NFL Draft

Refuse to settle for mediocrity

Teddy Bridgewater had his moments that showed he can be a competent NFL quarterback. However, the Panthers cannot settle for mediocrity. In order to truly succeed, the Panthers need to gamble on a quarterback that can raise their ceiling.

The Panthers must follow the blueprint of teams moving on from a decent quarterback for a younger prospect. The Kansas City Chiefs elevated themselves from a regular playoff contender to a Super Bowl contender when they moved on from Alex Smith for Patrick Mahomes. The Bills transformed from fringe playoff contenders to a dangerous team once they moved on from Tyrod Taylor for Josh Allen. Both teams had safe options that provided success, but they elevated their ceiling as they took a risk on younger, more talented prospects.

On the flip side, teams who refuse to improve continually fail to achieve their goals in the NFL. The Las Vegas Raiders and Derek Carr come to mind in this regard. The Raiders have failed to make the playoffs since the 2016 season, despite the success of Carr. He plays relatively safe and does not make mistakes, but his style of play limits his team from true success.

While Bridgewater could bring the Panthers to the playoffs with a better supporting cast, Carolina can have higher asperations if they surround a higher-ceiling quarterback with the same supporting cast. The focus should be on grabbing players that can truly elevate the Panthers and then fixing the holes afterward.