3 QB-needy teams that should trade for Gardner Minshew this offseason

2. Carolina Panthers

To say that the Panthers bungled their quarterback situation for the 2021 season would be an understatement — and it’s still ongoing. They elected to trade for Sam Darnold this offseason in lieu of having an opportunity to draft guys like Justin Fields and Mac Jones. After brief flashes of solid play, the situation crumbled.

That led Carolina to sign free agent Cam Newton, a player they cut in recent years and was cut from the Patriots (ironically, in favor of Jones) this past offseason. And though he got fans excited and high on nostalgia, it’s abundantly clear that Superman is much more Clark Kent than anything when on the field these days.

So now the Panthers are in a conundrum at the quarterback position. With big holes to fill — on the offensive line in particular — and with draft capital dwindling thanks to a number of trades, Carolina might not be in the right position to use a top draft pick on a quarterback this year. Thus, Gardner Minshew would make sense.

Even with playing well in a spot start, the value of Minshew on the trade market should remain reasonable and, most importantly, something Carolina could afford. He would be an upgrade over any of their current options and, given the situation, might be their best course of action at the position overall.