Locked On Panthers

The Carolina Panthers addition of Baker Mayfield presents Matt Rhule's third Week 1 starting quarterback in as many seasons. Mayfield also presents the best opportunity for the Panthers to be successful in 2022. What should the expectations be for the Panthers now that Mayfield has arrived? Are the Panthers a playoff team with Mayfield under center?Mayfield's addition to the roster in the immediate term should spell the end for P.J. Walker. Sam Darnold is likely the next quarterback to depart Carolina. Although, unlikely to leave until after the 2023 season thanks to his large contract. Rookie quarterback Matt Corral's future is more stable but his chance at starting in 2023 could be impacted by Mayfield's success or failure this season. If Mayfield performs to the level of his 2020 self, who lead the Browns to a playoff victory, what should the Panthers do? Would one season of success in Carolina warrant a long-term deal?Plus, how Mayfield's presence can be beneficial to both the Panthers defense and his bac

New Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield was provided a lifeline last week when the Panthers traded for the former number one pick. Mayfield will be fighting for his career in Carolina in 2022 while also trying to save the career of his new head coach, Matt Rhule. Can Mayfield save Rhule's job?The arrival of Mayfield puts into doubt the future of not only incumbent starting quarterback Sam Darnold but of rookie quarterback Matt Corral. Corral now will almost certainly use 2022 as a "redshirt" season before possibly competing for the job in 2023. Is this the best thing for Corral? Had the Panthers been able to trade for Mayfield the night they eventually traded up for Corral would he be a Panther?Robbie Anderson has had an interesting offseason, from commenting on the Panthers quarterback situation via social media to contemplating retirement to recently calling out his doubters on Instagram Live. Anderson's past comments on the Panthers interest in Mayfield could possibly create an issue between him a

The 2022 Carolina Panthers positional breakdowns conclude with a look at the Panthers defensive unit.2022 could be a big year for fourth-year defensive end Brian Burns, as the organization has already elected to exercise his fifth-year option for 2023, setting the next offseason up for Burns to get paid. Can Burns finally reach double-digit sacks? Burns isn't the only player looking to take the next step. Both 2020 draft picks Derrick Brown and Yetur Gross-Matos will be called upon to lead the Panthers defensive line unit this season.The Panthers linebackers have struggled the past two seasons as Shaq Thompson has been paired with Tahir Whitehead and Jermaine Carter Jr. Frankie Luvu is poised to take a starting linebacker spot while Damien Wilson comes off of a career season and Cory Littleton looks to regain his pre-Raiders form. Could this unit be one of the best in football by the end of the season?Since Matt Rhule arrived in Carolina, the Panthers have made the secondary a priority. Now, the unit boasts f

After months of rumors, the Carolina Panthers finally traded for Baker Mayfield. The Panthers acquired the former No. 1 overall pick from the Browns for a 2024 conditional 5th-round draft pick. The Browns will pay Mayfield $10.5 million this season, which means they trimmed over $8 million in cash and salary-cap space. The Panthers will pay Mayfield ~$5 million. Mayfield agreed to trim ~$3.5 million off his base salary.Did the Panthers patience pay off in the end? Who won the trade?Now that Mayfield is in Carolina and likely to start Week 1 against his former team, is he the solution to the Carolina Panthers QB problems? Better yet, can Baker Mayfield be the solution in Carolina?What now for Sam Darnold? Matt Corral? PJ Walker?What are the expectations now for Carolina with Mayfield as the presumed starter?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!DaveDownload the Dave app from the App store right now for an Extra Cash account and get up to 500 dollars instantly. For terms and conditions go to dave.com/legal. Ins

The 2022 position breakdowns continue with an evaluation of the Carolina Panthers offensive line, tight ends, and special teams units heading into the 2022 season.It's no secret that the Panthers had one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL in 2021. Heading into the offseason, Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer made the position group a priority. Fitterer delivered by signing several veterans who excelled at their previous stops and using the team's first-round pick on a left tackle, Ickey Ekwonu. Will the Panthers offensive line go from a weakness to a strength?The Panthers have utilized its tight ends less than the entire NFL since Matt Rhule arrived in 2020. With the addition of offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo there is a growing sentiment that the unit will see an increased role in the passing game this fall. But is there anyone on the roster capable of being a threat in the passing game? Ian Thomas has been named a breakout candidate for several years and has yet to live up to the hype. Tommy Tre

Locked On Panthers 2022 Position Breakdown series begins on America's Birthday. Julian Council provides his thoughts on where things stand for the Carolina Panthers quarterback. running back, and wide receiver rooms heading into the 2022 season.Since he entered the league, Sam Darnold has statically been the worst starting quarterback in the NFL. Will the lightbulb finally turn on for Darnold in 2022? Can Matt Corral carry over his college efficiency to the NFL?Christian McCaffrey has, unfortunately, only played in 10 games since Rhule took over as Panthers head coach in 2020. The Panthers record during that time...10-23. Can CMC finally stay healthy?Who will backup McCaffrey? Can D'Onta Foreman carry over his production from Tennessee? Can either Foreman or Chuba Hubbard be a threat in the passing game?Will anyone other than DJ Moore step up this season? Can Terrace Marshall live up to the offseason hype?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. G

The Weekly Friday Mailbag is back for a Fourth of July Weekend edition. Questions this week center around whether Luke Kuechly could have a future on the Panthers staff or front office; what are the reasonable expectations for C.J. Henderson; and what to make of DJ Moore's value following a crazy offseason in the receiver market.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been a rough few years for Carolina Panthers fans as the franchise hasn't appeared in the postseason since 2017 and has endured back-to-back five-loss seasons under third-year head coach Matt Rhule. The organization is also in search of a franchise quarterback. Despite all of that Julian Council believes that there are several things Panthers fans should be looking forward to heading into the 2022 season, such as the breakout potential for Brian Burns, reconstructed offensive line, growth of Terrace Marshall, and more.Julian also believes that the Panthers shouldn't just be excited about things but there are things to be hopeful about heading into the year, including contending for a playoff spot and the development of rookie quarterback Matt Corral.Plus, the Panthers are headed back to Wofford College for training camp. When can fans attend practices? What key dates should fans have circled?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to buil

It's no secret that Christian McCaffrey has struggled to stay healthy the past two seasons. Because of this, the former All-Pro running back has reached out to Hall of Fame back Marshall Faulk about how he was successful in staying healthy during the latter years of his career. The Panthers have already shown caution with McCaffrey by holding him out of training camp last year and so far this offseason limiting his reps during OTAs and minicamp. Will the team's new approach aid in keeping McCaffrey fresh?McCaffrey's in-game touches have been the top concern for Panthers fans the past two seasons. Prior to a Week 3 injury last season, McCaffrey touched the ball 59 times in the first two weeks, many of those coming via receptions. Coincidentally, McCaffrey's workload has coincided with the organization's neverending quest to find a quarterback. Could improved quarterback play be a factor in preserving McCaffrey moving forward?Plus, an update on the Panthers interest in Baker Mayfield/Jimmy Garoppolo and Luke Ku

The Weekly Friday Mailbag returns once again on Locked On Panthers. Julian Council is back to answer listener questions as the Countdown to Training Camp at Wofford College continues.Questions this week center around whether Matt Rhule is trying to hype Sam Darnold up to increase his trade value, the Panthers plan at backup running, if Matt Corral should start from Day 1 so that the team can see whether he can play or not, along with a question on if the team would've been better of with Teddy Bridgewater.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.Blue NileMake your moment sparkle with jewelr

Following the conclusion of mandatory minicamp, the Carolina Panthers continue to weigh their options at quarterback. Reports from CBS Sports Josina Anderson and Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer suggest that the Panthers are still interested in Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Panthers originally set a "soft" deadline to get a deal done prior to minicamp. When is too late for the Panthers to bring in Mayfield?Were Mayfield to arrive in the next few weeks could he realistically win the starting job for Week 1? How detrimental could missing OTAs and minicamp be for Mayfield?Plus, sportsbooks in Vegas have Matt Rhule as the favorite to be the next NFL coach to be fired or resign. Can Matt Rhule save his job in 2022?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever

WCNC Sports Director Nick Carboni joined Julian Council to wrap up the Carolina Panthers mandatory minicamp. Nick and Julian discussed what the Panthers might do at the quarterback position during these next five weeks off. Do Matt Rhule and the Panthers brass believe in Sam Darnold enough to not make a move? Will Baker Mayfield end up in Carolina before training camp?The guys also discuss the bizarre saga of Panthers wide receiver Robbie Anderson and look at players who might need to step up if Anderson cannot bounce back or retires prior to the season.Plus, the guys share their thoughts on the state of the Panthers pass rush. Is it time for Carolina to add a veteran?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!Rock AutoAmazing se

With mandatory minicamp wrapped up, the Carolina Panthers now have five weeks off before reporting to training camp at Wofford. Julian once again took the time to answer listener questions with another edition of the Weekly Friday Mailbag.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.Blue NileMake your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Carolina Panthers wrapped up mandatory minicamp with a pseudo-Fan Fest as the team practiced inside Bank of America Stadium in front of friends and family.The offense was the story of the day as both quarterbacks, Sam Darnold and Matt Corral, excelled during the team's red zone period.Following practice, Panthers head coach Matt Rhule wrapped up the offseason as the team takes a five-week hiatus before beginning training camp at Wofford. Rhule applauded general manager Scott Fitterer for the job that he's done building the roster this offseason. One of those additions is Corral, who Rhule states needs to continue to improve at the pre-snap portion of the position but said that "the arrow’s pointing up for him." Corral echoed Rhule's sentiment by stating that he needs to nail down the mental aspect of the game. Does this suggest that Corral will unlikely be ready to lead the Panthers offense by Week 1? Can Corral catch up in time to challenge Darnold during training camp?The Panthers quarterback situation

The Carolina Panthers were back on the field on Wednesday afternoon for the second day of mandatory minicamp. Several veterans once again were not in uniform as Matt Rhule tries a different approach to the team's offseason program.Reports on Tuesday surrounded the Panthers interest in Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. Incumbent starting quarterback Sam Darnold met with the local media to once again address the Panthers reported interest in trying to replace him following a disappointing season. Darnold also offered insight into his relationship with rookie Matt Corral. Darnold says that he's helping to mentor rookie. Has Darnold shown his leadership to be beneficial through this offseason? Should the Panthers roll with Darnold and Corral for the 2022 season?Panthers wide receiver Robbie Anderson also met with the Charlotte media on Wednesday a few days after he tweeted out his thoughts on potentially retiring. Anderson informed the media that he was "just thinking out loud" and "wasn’t really that

On Tuesday morning, Jonathan Jones, CBS Sports NFL Insider, reported on Twitter that trade talks between the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Brown surrounding QB Baker Mayfield are back on. According to Jones' sources, the main issue remains Mayfield's salary and how much (or how little) teams pay.Jones added that there's urgency on Carolina's side to execute the deal soon so Mayfield can get some time in minicamp with the Panthers. Which was echoed by The Athletic's Joe Person who stated that minicamp was seen as a soft deadline by Panthers on a Baker Mayfield trade.Would trading for Mayfield fly in the face of what the Panthers have been saying all offseason and since drafting Matt Corral? Should the Panthers give up any assets for Mayfield? How much should the team be willing to spend on Mayfield's nearly $19 million contract?Julian Council believes that there's no doubt that Mayfield is an upgrade from incumbent starting quarterback Sam Darnold. The bigger question is, can Mayfield be the answer at quarte

The Carolina Panthers begin the final portion of its offseason program on Tuesday with mandatory minicamp. One player who was absent throughout the voluntary OTAs was wide receiver Robbie Anderson. Anderson made waves over the weekend by posting a since-deleted tweet suggesting he was contemplating retiring. Since then, Anderson has reported to minicamp. How concerned should the Panthers be about Anderson's commitment moving forward? Would it be better for both parties if Anderson decided to move on? How would the Panthers replace Anderson?ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano reported over the weekend that Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo are likely to be cut instead of traded, with Garoppolo the favorite to land in Carolina. Minicamp allows the Panthers one final chance to evaluate its quarterback room before the long break prior to training camp. Julian Council discusses why he's focused on Sam Darnold and Matt Corral this week along with the other thi

The Carolina Panthers wrapped up the final week of OTAs and will transition to mandatory minicamp next Tuesday-Thursday. Julian Council is back for another edition of the Weekly Friday Mailbag. This week's questions include whether Matt Corral has the potential to be as good as Dak Prescott, with both having similar seasons during their senior years playing in the SEC; along with a question of if the Panthers would re-sign Sam Darnold, barring that the quarterback has a strong season, and what a potential contract for Darnold would look like.Plus, questions about if the Panthers made a mistake re-signing P.J. Walker, if fans need to dial back expectations for Ickey Ekwonu, how many rounds of golf does Matt Rhule need to save his job, the best look for Ben McAdoo, and more.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this seas

Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said recently on "The Pivot" podcast that he put himself in a "(expletive) situation" when he signed with Carolina late in the 2021 season. Newton made this statement in defense of how teams think about him and why he remains unsigned at this time. Newton also reiterated that there are not 32 quarterbacks better than him right now. Is Newton right about his circumstances in Carolina last season? Will his comments dissuade Scott Fitterer and Matt Rhule from bringing back Newton?Panthers defensive coordinator Phil Snow spoke to the media ahead of OTAs on Wednesday where he discussed his plan to replace the production at outside linebacker, opposite of Brian Burns, that's since been departed by Haason Reddick. Snow mentioned how it will be incumbent upon Marquis Haynes and Yetur Gross-Matos to match that production. Can the Panthers rely on Haynes and Gross-Matos in 2022? Should the team look for free agents to fill that spot?Plus, Matt Rhule spoke about how he's f

The 2022 offseason was by far the most important offseason for Matt Rhule, heading into his third and possibly final year, and for second-year general manager Scott Fitterer, the two look to turn around the team following back-to-back 5-win seasons. The Panthers added several key free agents to both sides of the ball, even special teams. Which of those additions have to make the biggest impact in order for the Panthers to have success in 2022?The re-signed wide receiver Keith Kirkwood on Monday. Julian Council discusses why the Panthers wide receiver room needs to bounce back in 2022 and how it's a position group that probably deserves more scrutiny heading into the season.Plus, the Baker Mayfield to the Panthers rumor isn't finished yet. Could the Panthers trade for Mayfield ahead of next week's mandatory minicamp? Should the Panthers move on from the veteran quarterback market if they don't sign or trade for someone prior to the start next week?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a p