How Will the Carolina Panthers Become a Solid Futures Bet in 2021?

The Carolina Panthers can go from one of the NFL’s worst to one of the NFL’s better franchises. In fact, don’t be surprised if this team winds up to be a hotter bet than you may think for 2021, given the state of their division rivals. All of whom could head for a rebuild.

Given their talent on offense, the Panthers are a quarterback away from becoming a force to be reckoned with. However, their defense still needs an overhaul, so monitor how they deal with roster transactions before the upcoming season.

In short, the Panthers are only a few solid signings and draft picks away from, if anything else, becoming a hot bet to encroach the over in the over/under futures category, and perhaps more.

Let’s see what will turn the Carolina Panthers into a hot futures bet in 2021.

Keep the Core

The Panthers have a talented offense. Sure, their centerpiece, Christian McCaffrey, missed most of the season with injuries. But get this: In 3 games in 2020, he still rushed for 225 yards, 5 rushing touchdowns, and snagged 17 passes for 149 yards.

It still equates to 1,200 rushing yards and 91 receptions, 27 rushing touchdowns, and 800 receiving yards to go with it. Don’t expect a drop off from McCaffrey when the 2021 season starts back up. In fact, with the pace he played, you wouldn’t have seen much of a drop off this season.

Then there is Robby Anderson, Curtis Samuel, and D.J. Moore. Each saw seasons of 60-plus receptions, with Anderson and Samuel logging career highs in receptions. And this was with Teddy Bridgewater and P.J. Walker throwing them the football.

What can this team do with a true franchise quarterback?

Find a Quarterback

Bridgewater returned and logged career highs in just about every statistical category. Unfortunately, he didn’t do anywhere near enough to show that he’s the franchise quarterback moving forward.

Bridgewater is a fantastic journeyman. Sure, he’s a bust of a first-round pick, mainly at no fault to his own considering his 2016 knee injury that took 2 years to recover from.

So who is Teddy Bridgewater?

You can put him into the Jeff George/Rick Mirer category. Or in more modern terms, something of a Ryan Fitzpatrick or Josh McCown. But considering his draft status, the former is a better comparison considering his attitude is nothing close to Jeff George’s.

But this team needs a quarterback and while Bridgewater is good enough to start in the NFL, his niche is as a high-end backup, spot starter, or journeyman who will give you one, maybe two years in the gig.

The question is, who becomes the next starting quarterback for the Panthers?

For this team to take the next step and to become a decent futures bet, they need a marquee name. Either they draft someone like Trey Lance or Zach Wilson, or they make a big play and go after the grand prize like Deshaun Watson, who is reportedly frustrated with the Texans.

Bridgewater probably isn’t the guy. Nor is any other quarterback on the roster.

Find a Sack Artist

The Panthers were horrid on defense in 2020, and one reason is because they couldn’t get to the quarterback. No, they couldn’t create turnovers or stop the run, but this team did nothing to help turn the ball back to the offense.

As a result, they allowed 402 points, or 25.1 points per game. And that needs to change. They need to get to the quarterback if they want to turn this defense around. For you, it means becoming a viable futures bet. For them, it means going somewhere other than the basement of the NFC South.

The team had just 29 sacks in 2020, less than 1 per game. It ranked 24th in the league in 2020. Look for the Panthers to fix this issue over the offseason and find someone to right the wrong. Even if they need to bring in a couple of players via free agency or the draft.

Find a Ballhawk

The Panthers couldn’t just fail to get to the quarterback in 2020; they failed to create turnovers. They ranked 30th in the league with just 7 interceptions and were just one of 4 teams to have logged interceptions in the single digits.

They also had the second-worst interception percentage total in the league at 1.2 percent, next to the Houston Texans, who logged an interception just 0.6 percent of the time. Besides looking for a sack artist, the Panthers must find players who can log interceptions or at least disrupt the pass.

As you can see from this section and those above it, they have built this team to win on offense and the defense has remained the bane of their existence. So expect them not only to hit hard in looking for a solid pass rusher; look for them to be in the market for someone who can create turnovers.

One reason the Panthers gave up so many points in 2020 is because they couldn’t give the ball back to the offense.

Another reason is because they couldn’t get to the quarterback. But the defense was so bad in 2020 that teams also took advantage of yet another variable.

Stop the Run

The Panthers allowed 4.7 yards per attempt in 2020, ranking 28th in the NFL.

What’s worse?

The Panthers ranked in the middle of the league in rushing touchdowns allowed, rushing yards allowed per game, and they ranked in the top 10 in rushing attempts against.

The team’s defense had their moments, but far too often, they allowed too many points. In fact, they allowed 30-plus points in 6 of their games. They also lost 8 of their 11 games by 8 points or less, meaning teams also melted them in the fourth quarter.

So besides finding someone who can rush the passer and make offensive lines uncomfortable and finding a ballhawk in the defensive backfield, the Panthers must find run stuffers.

If their entire offseason doesn’t revolve around defense, this team’s status as a solid futures bet at NFL betting sites in terms of the over, winning the South, and perhaps an NFC Championship is null and void.

And most likely, they won’t fix all 3 variables in a single offseason.

Fate of NFC South Rivals

This one may not do much for the Panthers over-under, but if Drew Brees and Tom Brady call it quits after the season, you may find a changing of the guard quick. At least in terms of the Panthers becoming a solid futures bet for winning the NFC South.

Networks such as the NFL Network and ESPN have already reported that Drew Brees is ready to call it quits after the 2020 season. And while Tom Brady is still playing at a high level at age 43, sooner than later he too will feel the effects of old age. Or at least old in terms of NFL years.

Plus, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank has already clarified that no one is safe in the team’s locker room. Will the new head coach slash general manager clean house and start this team back over again from scratch?

Or, will they keep veterans like Matt Ryan and Julio Jones and try to win this thing while the 2 players are still in their primes?

Time will tell, and it remains to be seen.

However, if Brees retires and the Falcons tear the team down to the bare bones, look for the Panthers to become a popular dark horse futures bet not just for the NFC South title; but also as a potential wildcard playoff contender.

And if you find that the Panthers are wheeling and dealing, keeping the core together while landing a marquee quarterback, this team is looking good on paper. Oh, and for the record, Matt Rhule is an expert at rebuilding programs.

So expect him to take full advantage and using his experience at the NFL level.

Conclusion

The Carolina Panthers are halfway there, even if their record in 2020 showed they were behind. But they have a solid core of offensive players at the skill positions. And they’re a quarterback away from putting on offensive clinics week in and week out.

So expect it to happen if they land a good one.

Their defense has remained a hindrance and will continue as such until they find someone who can create turnovers, sacks, and stop the run.

But they may have help if the New Orleans Saints, Falcons, and Bucs weaken. If Brees is done and the Falcons rebuild, the Panthers are looking like a hot dark horse bet. Even if they don’t fix the defense in a single offseason.

What are your thoughts on the Panthers? Are they a hot futures bet if they focus on defense in the draft and free agency? What if their division rivals weaken?