Over the first few weeks of the 2021 NFL season, it looked as if the Panthers had found their man in QB Sam Darnold while also reviving his career after escaping the NY Jets. Well, that ended up being a mirage, as Darnold ended the year with a 4-7 record as a starter and barely completing 60% of his passes.

The Panthers would undoubtedly like an upgrade at QB and, like most teams, had reportedly shown interest in Rodgers should he hit the trade block. That never happened, and apparently, they never had a real shot at him anyway. The two options that could make just about any team a Super Bowl contender are entirely out of the picture now. Knowing the Panthers, they’ll probably end up with a Jacoby Brissett or Marcus Mariota. Both are solid, but neither makes any team a legit contender. Good luck, Panthers.