Panthers need to draft a franchise quarterback in 2020

The Panthers can’t count on either Cam Newton or Kyle Allen to be their franchise quarterback of the future. They need to draft a new starter in 2020.

Panthers fans have engaged in a spirited debate over whether Cam Newton or Kyle Allen should be anointed as the team’s starting quarterback in 2020 all season long. The ugly truth in Carolina is that neither player should be trusted to lead the team’s offense for years to come.

Instead, GM Marty Hurney and his front office need to address the position in April’s draft. If the team continues to play as it did against the Falcons on Sunday, the Panthers may have a reasonably high first-round pick to work with. Even if they scratch and claw their way into the playoffs, the franchise needs to be aggressive in their quest to move up and grab a quarterback to build around.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that Newton or Allen won’t be on the roster moving forward. Newton could be kept on for another season to serve as a bridge to a talented youngster. Allen could also be trusted to start the season as a caretaker. Neither guy is a good bet to hold the job down all season long though. Unless the organization somehow believes Will Grier is going to take a massive leap to stardom in the offseason, they’ll be forced to address the position with a high draft pick.

It’s unreasonable to think that Carolina can move up to grab Joe Burrow. The LSU star has a great chance of going No. 1 overall no matter what team ends up with the pick. He’s seen as a great combination of polish and potential by NFL scouts. He’d be a great star for Carolina to build around, but acquiring him will be too costly for the franchise.

The good news for Panthers fans is that the 2020 quarterback draft class is deeper than just Burrow. Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa are also seen as potential Pro Bowlers. Tagovailoa’s recent hip injury could really cause him to fall in the eyes of some organizations. The Panthers could easily turn out to be the team that’s willing to exercise the caution required to spend a first round pick on the Alabama star.

Herbert doesn’t have quite the same name recognition that Tagavailoa does with Panthers fans, but his Oregon tape shows a lot of upside as well. He’s got the size and athleticism to make big plays in the modern NFL. It’s unlikely he’ll be ready to start immediately, but again, that shouldn’t be Carolina’s chief concern. The organization’s main goal should be selecting the right quarterback to lead their offense for the next decade.

Panthers fans should expect to see big changes this offseason. The biggest shift should be the acquisition of a new franchise quarterback to build around. If that doesn’t happen, Carolina may remain mired in mediocrity for the foreseeable future.