The Denver Broncos QB room received much-needed reinforcements yesterday, after trading a 6th round pick to Carolina for Teddy Bridgewater. This has left the Panthers with just Sam Darnold, PJ Walker, Will Grier, and Tommy Stevens on the roster.
It seemed likely that Bridgewater would be on the move after Carolina brought in Darnold from the Jets, but had Carolina rostered both Bridgewater and Darnold, PJ’s position could have become much more precarious. Now, following this trade, the implications to this group could give PJ a great opportunity to shine.
Darnold is just 23, and with plenty of talent and potential still on the table hopes to right the ship after a tough three years with Adam Gase in New York. While he’s obviously projected as the starter now, things behind him are wide open for PJ to step up.
He was already the primary backup to Bridgewater last year and edged out Will Grier early in the year. He made and won a Week 11 start and served as relief in 3 different games, making him the most experienced QB in this system.
Grier was a 3rd round pick back in 2019, but Matt Rhule and the current regime don’t have ties to him, while Rhule, Walker, and wideout Robby Anderson had a well-documented run together at Temple.
Tommy Stevens has some great physical tools and was used as a runner on a few occasions last year, and while they could be trying to use him as a swiss army knife player on offense he would have to do a lot this offseason to unseat PJ as QB2.
There is still the possibility that Carolina drafts someone tonight, but as the room currently falls it seems clear that Sam Darnold is the starter, and PJ the trusted backup behind him.
Though his terms as mop-up quarterback last year weren’t pretty, let’s not forget that he came in and won his first-ever NFL start, and things appear to just be getting started for him in Carolina.
