Asked about Deshaun Watson, new Panthers general manager says Carolina ‘will be in every deal’

Matt Rhule is not sold on Teddy Bridgewater as the Carolina Panthers starting quarterback for 2021, if the coach’s comments at the start of the season are valid. Scott Fitterer, the team’s new general manager, appears to be in the same boat. Presented to journalists The longtime Seattle Seahawks executive made it clear on Friday that he has yet to fully assess the current Panthers staff, including Bridgewater. But when asked specifically about the quarterback position, he suggested that Carolina will look to add competition under center, adding that the Panthers “will be in every case” after mentioning the potential availability of Deshaun Watson.

“I’m not going to speculate,” Fitterer said when asked if a “certain Houston quarterback” might be commercially available. “What I’m going to tell you is that we will participate in every agreement. We’re going to find out where things are going… But before I do anything outside, I need to know who is there.

Reading between the lines, it’s clear that Fitterer isn’t happy to sit idly by going into the 2021 season, especially at QB. Whether or not that means Bridgewater, who just signed a three-year contract with the club last year, needs to be replaced remains to be seen. But Fitterer explained that he believes in drafting or acquiring a quarterback every year, noting that “we’re going to be very aggressive in our acquisition process,” defending “competition in all positions.” and saying he’s looking for a fourth quarter leader.

Bridgewater notably struggled late in the game in his first season as a starting QB for the Panthers.

“We have to assess our total offense – the players, the ploys – at every position, including Teddy,” Rhule said earlier this offseason. “Teddy must be having a great offseason. Being a quarterback in this league is being able to take the physical toll of the season and play your best football at the end of the year. I don’t know if I have. saw that from him, and so my encouragement to him was, “Hey, you must have a great offseason.”