Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have reportedly called the Minnesota Vikings about trading for quarterback Kirk Cousins, but conversations have gone "nowhere so far."

That's the word from Judd Zulgad of SKOR North on Purple Daily Monday (h/t Anthony Rizzuti of Panthers Wire), who said the following regarding the Panthers' reported interest in the 33-year-old:

“They have gotten a call. Now, from what I’ve heard, it went nowhere so far. But it’s interesting that the phone did ring at TCO [Stadium] in Eagen and on the other end of the line...the Carolina Panthers.

Quarterback-desperate. Panicked, I’m sure. I think if Matt Rhule and the Panthers don’t have a successful 2022, he’s probably going to be fired 'cause that has not worked out. They cast their lot, in 2021, with Sam Darnold—didn’t work out. And so I’ve heard that the Panthers...now the Vikings supposedly said ‘Hey, let’s put a pin in that conversation. We don’t plan to move him now.'

Cousins has one year and $45 million ($35 million base salary, $10 million prorated bonus) left on his contract.

The three-time Pro Bowler completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 33 touchdowns (seven interceptions) and 7.5 yards per attempt last season.

The Panthers have played quarterback roulette ever since Matt Rhule arrived in Charlotte to be the team's head coach in 2020.

Teddy Bridgewater, P.J. Walker, Sam Darnold and Cam Newton have all started games, but the team doesn't appear to have found its long-term starter. The trio of Darnold, Newton and Walker notably threw 21 interceptions and 14 touchdowns last year.

Cousins would be an upgrade at quarterback, although he wouldn't come cheap.

Reporter Jordan Schultz already stated that Cousins has "zero intention" of taking a pay cut for the Vikings and that an extension could cost the Vikings around $40 million per season.

As for the Vikings, they have some big decisions to make as a new general manager (Kwesi Adofo-Mensah) and head coach (Kevin O'Connell) take over the reins in Minneapolis. Most importantly, there's the question of what to do with Cousins, who will be a free agent in 2023.

He's been the Vikings' quarterback since 2018 and finished top 10 in both Football Outsiders' DVOA (defense-adjusted over average) and DYAR (defense-adjusted yards above replacement) over the past three seasons.

At the very least, it appears he's sticking around in 2022. 

"We've already started thinking about how we're going to build those systems for him and our other quarterbacks and really the tremendous skill group that we have, our guys up front," O'Connell said at his introductory press conference.

"It takes all 11 to move the football on offense, to run it, to throw it, to score points in the red zone. But I'm anticipating Kirk being a part of what we do."

For now, Cousins remains a Viking, and the Panthers remain in quarterback limbo.

Veteran wide receiver Robby Anderson would savor a New York Jets reunion in the event the Carolina Panthers trade him this offseason, according to DJ Bien-Aime II of the New York Daily News.

"If Anderson is moved, the Jets are his preferred designation, a source said," Bien-Aime reported. "He feels like he has unfinished business in New York and likes Zach Wilson’s talent."

Anderson spent his first four years in the NFL with the Jets before signing with the Panthers in 2020.

New York replaced him with Breshad Perriman and then signed Corey Davis and Keelan Cole to address the passing game in 2021.

However, the Jets once again head into the spring with a pressing need at receiver.

Davis, Cole and Elijah Moore combined to finish with fewer receiving yards (1,479) than Cooper Kupp (1,947), Justin Jefferson (1,616) and Davante Adams (1,553) this past year.

Part of that was attributable to having a rookie quarterback (Zach Wilson) who struggled mightily under center and probably wasn't ready to assume a starting role so early. But the lack of a true No. 1 wideout is glaring.

Anderson is coming off a somewhat disappointing season himself, finishing with 53 receptions, 519 yards and five touchdowns. His 9.8 yards per catch were well below his career average (13.2).

In the 28-year-old's defense, the Panthers offense was one of the worst in the NFL. Christian McCaffrey was limited to just seven games, and a change of scenery did little to help Sam Darnold.

When Anderson had Teddy Bridgewater throwing him passes in 2020, he cracked 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career.

While the 6'3" pass-catcher wouldn't solve all of the Jets' problems, he'd bring something different to New York through his ability to torch opposing secondaries down the field.

Carolina might be amenable to a deal, too, considering the financial implications.

Trading Anderson before June 1 would add $7.7 million in dead money but save $9.2 million, per Spotrac. Waiting until after June 1 would spread the dead money hit across 2022 and 2023 and bring $13 million in savings.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers are expected to be among the teams to explore a trade for veteran quarterbacks this offseason.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported all three teams are expected to monitor the market for Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson and Aaron Rodgers, among other possible names that could be available.

The reported list of teams is of no surprise; all five have significant holes at the quarterback spot.

The Broncos, in particular, could be a starting quarterback away from being a Super Bowl contender with Teddy Bridgewater's contract up. Denver has a burgeoning young core of skill-position players, a solid offensive line and a stellar defense; the only negative is that the Broncos play in the AFC West, which already houses Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.

Rodgers has an obvious link to Denver after the team hired former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as its next head coach. Hackett has brought along several assistant coaches as well, making it a good talent and familiarity fit if Rodgers chooses to leave Green Bay.

The Panthers have been in search of a franchise quarterback since Matt Rhule's arrival and may be the team most desperate to add a difference-maker. Rhule enters 2022 firmly on the hot seat, likely facing dismissal without a major turnaround. Sam Darnold, who is on the books for $18.9 million next season, isn't the answer. 

The Bucs are leaving the door open for a potential Tom Brady return but are realistic about the fact that the 44-year-old has probably played his last game. Tampa has several veterans hitting the open market this offseason and spent a second-round pick on Kyle Trask last April, so quarterback might wind up being less of a priority than talent retention.

Financial constraints are likely to hinder any Saints pursuit of a veteran quarterback. New Orleans is an NFL-high $80.4 million over the cap and will have to make several seismic changes to the roster to simply get under the cap. It's unlikely any of the aforementioned names will want to join what's likely to be a depleted roster in 2022. Taysom Hill is the top quarterback currently under contract for next season, and Jameis Winston could be brought back on a short-term deal as he returns from an ACL tear. 

Washington also stands out as an unlikely fit for any of the top quarterbacks. The newly christened Commanders have a few solid players on both sides of the ball and a good coach in Ron Rivera but don't have the makings of a Super Bowl contender. Taylor Heinicke started 15 games for Washington in 2021 and is under contract for next season. 

Watson is the only name on the list of veteran quarterbacks whose situation would be improved by going to Washington. It would also be a public-relations nightmare for the Commanders to acquire Watson, who is being sued by 22 women for sexual assault and sexual misconduct, while at the same time their team owner is facing allegations of sexual harassment. It seems unlikely Wilson or Rodgers would be open to playing for Washington given the circumstances surrounding the organization.

Matt Rhule remains the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, but some aren't convinced he will be in the position for the long term.

"There were coaches on staff, there were coaches that Matt Rhule wanted to bring in here and talk to like a Thomas McGaughey and a Pep Hamilton that viewed this situation as a lame duck situation and didn’t want any part of it," The Athletic's Joseph Person told Game On with Richmond and John (h/t Anthony Rizzuti of Panthers Wire).

The Panthers have gone 10-23 in two seasons under Rhule, who was hired from the college ranks after spending time at Temple and Baylor.

Rhule initially signed a seven-year deal with the team, although Person reported in December that owner David Tepper is embarrassed by the contract. 

Even if the coach remains for another season, he's clearly still on the hot seat heading into 2022.

Pep Hamilton, a veteran coach at both the professional and college level, reportedly declined an interview with the Panthers and will instead become the offensive coordinator with the Houston Texans. Thomas McGaughey, who spent 2016-17 in Carolina, was considered an option as a special teams coach, but the two sides couldn't come to terms, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Carolina also lost several position coaches from last season, including Tony Sparano Jr., Frisman Jackson and Jason Simmons.

The team still has Phil Snow heading into his third season as defensive coordinator, although he has followed Rhule throughout stints at Temple and Baylor and is unlikely to jump ship. New offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo also wasn't too sought-after after spending last year as a consultant for the Cowboys, most recently serving as a coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020 when he oversaw the quarterbacks.

The inability to lure top talent to the coaching staff could be a problem that holds Carolina back in 2022.   

The Carolina Panthers reportedly have eyes on selecting their quarterback of the future in this year's NFL draft.

Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com reported Wednesday that he was hearing from sources that the Panthers were enamored with Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett, and they could choose him with the No. 6 pick.

"Word is, the Panthers are taking a strong shine to Pickett, which makes sense on multiple levels," Benjamin wrote.

After putting together a stellar senior season at Pitt, Pickett further boosted his draft stock last weekend at the Senior Bowl. He completed all six of his pass attempts for 89 yards and a touchdown in one quarter of play.

The Panthers dealt with wildly inconsistent quarterback play last season. Sam Darnold started the year and led the team to a 3-0 record, but his propensity for turnovers returned, and the team went on a four-game losing streak before he suffered a shoulder injury.

Carolina turned to backup P.J. Walker and even brought back 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton, but neither was a viable solution. The Panthers ended the year with seven straight losses to finish with a record of 5-12.

Despite having Darnold in the fold for next season, Benjamin wrote that people around the league believe the Panthers won't let Pickett get away.

"I don't think he makes it past the Panthers," one evaluator who has done extensive work on Pickett told Benjamin. "Their owner [David Tepper] is a huge Pitt booster. He hasn't invested draft capital in a quarterback yet. He has to know the Steelers like him [Tepper is a former minority investor in the Steelers]. I think that's a fit."

Whether they select a quarterback in the draft or not, the Panthers offense is expected to look different next year after the hiring of new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo under head coach Matt Rhule.

In the wake of Brian Flores' lawsuit against the NFL that includes allegations of racial discrimination in the hiring process for coaches, former head coach Marvin Lewis said he experienced a similar issue in 2002. 

Appearing on ESPN's First Take on Wednesday, Lewis recalled going through the interview process with the Carolina Panthers after it had been reported John Fox was going to be named their next head coach:

A key source of Flores' lawsuit is a series of text messages he exchanged with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick about the New York Giants' head coaching job that went to Brian Daboll. 

Belichick mistakenly texted Flores to congratulate him for getting hired by the Giants. Flores had not yet had his interview with the team when the messages were sent. 

Lewis was the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator for six seasons from 1996-2001. The 2000 unit set an NFL record for fewest points allowed (165) and rushing yards allowed (970) in a 16-game season, leading the Ravens to the Super Bowl. 

After the 2001 season, Lewis was believed to be highly sought after for at least one head coaching vacancy. He was close to a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the Glazer family pulled out because they didn't want another defensive-minded head coach after firing Tony Dungy. 

Fox was hired by the Panthers in January 2002. Lewis spent that season as Washington's defensive coordinator under head coach Steve Spurrier. 

The Cincinnati Bengals did hire Lewis as their head coach in January 2003. The 63-year-old went 131-122-3 with seven playoff appearances and four AFC North titles in 16 seasons with the team. 

Since 2019, Lewis has worked at Arizona State University. He is in his second stint as a special advisor after spending the 2020 season as co-defensive coordinator.    

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow and Carolina Panthers cornerback Stephon Gilmore were added as replacements to the 2022 Pro Bowl team Sunday.

Gilmore will be stepping in for Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who will be participating in the Super Bowl. Renfrow replaces an injured Keenan Allen. 

Gilmore's name showing up among the alternates for the Pro Bowl was a little surprising given he was limited to just eight games in 2021. He compiled 16 total tackles and two interceptions in that half-season of work after coming over via trade from the New England Patriots. Pro Football Focus gave Gilmore a 77.1 overall grade for the season.

The Panthers will face stiff competition in bringing Gilmore back next season, with the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year due to hit free agency. Gilmore joins Trevon Diggs, Darius Slay and Marshon Lattimore on the NFC depth chart at cornerback.

Renfrow emerged as one of the most reliable targets in football during his third NFL season, compiling 103 receptions for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. His emergence was critical in the Raiders earning a wild-card berth, with Renfrow stepping in as Derek Carr's favorite target after the release of Henry Ruggs III following his vehicular homicide charge and tight end Darren Waller being out with injuries.

Renfrow joins Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs and Diontae Johnson among the AFC selections. Johnson is serving as a replacement for Ja'Marr Chase, who will be heading to the Super Bowl.

Matt Rhule has a job as head coach of the Carolina Panthers, but he's reportedly keeping an eye on what happens at the University of Michigan. 

Per CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, Rhule would have interest in the Wolverines' head coaching job if Jim Harbaugh goes back to the NFL. 

La Canfora reported in December that Rhule was attracting the attention of many top colleges, including LSU, USC and Oklahoma before those programs hired a head coach. 

Speculation about Harbaugh potentially returning to the NFL has picked up since the end of the regular season. 

ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio reported Jan. 15 that Harbaugh is "watching and waiting to see whether a team with a reasonable ownership and general manager situation is interested in giving him an opportunity to continue [his] NFL career."

The one team that has frequently been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Harbaugh is Las Vegas.

Per The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, people in the Michigan program believe Harbaugh would take the Raiders head coaching job if it were offered to him. 

Harbaugh just finished his best season as Michigan's head coach. The 58-year-old led the Wolverines to the Big Ten championship and their first appearance in the College Football Playoff. He is 61-24 in seven seasons at his alma mater. 

Prior to taking over at Michigan, Harbaugh had a successful four-year stint as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014. He led them to a 44-19-1 record, three straight appearances in the NFC Championship Game and an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII. 

Rhule was hired by the Panthers in January 2020 to replace Ron Rivera. He is 10-23 overall in two seasons with Carolina. The 46-year-old was 47-43 in seven seasons as a college head coach between Temple (2013-16) and Baylor (2017-19).    

The Carolina Panthers are expected to hire former New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo as their offensive coordinator, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.  

Rapoport noted that while contract details between the Panthers and McAdoo have to be worked out, "there aren't expected to be issues."

McAdoo would replace Joe Brady as head coach Matt Rhule's OC after Brady was fired during the 2021 season, less than two years into his stint in Carolina.

The 44-year-old McAdoo is best known for his two-year run as head coach of the Giants in 2016 and 2017. New York went 11-5 and reached the playoffs in his first season, but the team fired him the following season with a 2-10 record through 12 games.

McAdoo was the Giants offensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015 under Tom Coughlin before getting promoted to head coach.

The offense ranked 10th in yardage and 13th in scoring in his first season as OC and improved to eighth in total offense and sixth in scoring in 2015.

Before his time with the Giants, McAdoo had stints on the staffs of the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers, and he was with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to 2013, first serving as tight ends coach and then as quarterbacks coach.

McAdoo took a couple of years away from coaching after getting fired by the Giants, but he spent 2020 as quarterbacks coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars and was a consultant with the Dallas Cowboys this season.

Rhule's tenure as head coach of the Panthers has been rocky with a 10-23 record in two seasons.

Offense has been a big issue for Carolina, which ranked 21st in yardage and 24th in scoring in 2020 and dipped to 30th in total offense and 29th in scoring this season.

Brady was the scapegoat for those issues, but a lack of answers at quarterback may be the bigger culprit.

Teddy Bridgewater was unspectacular as the starter in 2020. While Sam Darnold started well in 2021, he faded and got injured, which led to time under center for Cam Newton and P.J. Walker.

As well, superstar running back Christian McCaffrey has missed 23 games over the past two seasons because of injury.

The 2022 season figures to be a do-or-die year for Rhule, and McAdoo's ability to get the offense going could play a big role in whether Rhule returns in 2023.