Report: Carolina Panthers Ready To Make A Massive Push For Deshaun Watson

The saga of Deshaun Watson trying to find a new team for 2021 and beyond continues, and now there may be a NFC team that is ready to make a big push for the 25-year-old.

That team resides in North Carolina, the Carolina Panthers, who are coming off a 5-11 season under first-year head coach Matt Rhule.

When asked to make a bold prediction about the Cats, David Newton of ESPN NFL Nation said that it wouldn't surprise him if Carolina put a lot of effort into trying to get a deal done for the unhappy Texans quarterback.

On Monday, Newton made an appearance on NFL Live and was part of a roundtable discussion of the NFC South.

“The Panthers will do whatever it takes to get Deshaun Watson, and that includes giving up three first-round draft picks and (running back) Christian McCaffrey,” Newton said.

“Owner David Tepper wants to win a Super Bowl. He’s made that clear. He understands it takes a marquee quarterback to do that.

"If you look at recent history, outside of (Kansas City Chiefs quarterback) Patrick Mahomes, the quickest way to do that is to trade for a marquee quarterback and not draft one in the first round. Just ask Tampa Bay.”

Now before you go out and buy a Carolina Panthers Deshaun Watson jersey, be aware that this is just a "bold prediction," and nothing substantial has happened to get Watson anywhere close to being a Panther.


















Last season, Teddy Bridgewater started 15 games for the Panthers, going 4-11 as the team's starting quarterback. The 28-year-old threw for 3733 yards with 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Watson led the NFL last year in yards passing with 4823 to go along with 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Trading away McCaffrey, the Panthers' best player, would also be a huge move that likely would not sit well with the fan base. He's just 24 years old and, he's had two seasons rushing over 1000 yards in the last four years. He also scored 29 touchdowns in that time.

If a huge move is made and the Cats do move McCaffery, they would then likely make a push to bring back running back Mike Davis, who is scheduled to be a free agent in March.

Filling in for an injured McCaffery last season, Davis rushed for 42.8 yards per game. He played in 15 games and ran for 642 yards with six touchdowns.









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Matt has been a part of the Cleveland Sports landscape working in the media since 1994 when he graduated from broadcasting school. His coverage beats include the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Cavaliers. He's written three books, and won the "2020 AP Sports Stringer Lifetime Service Award."