The Panthers aren’t tanking. At least, that’s what general manager Scott Fitterer is saying.
Hours after his team traded star running back Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers, the GM said it did not mark the beginning of a teardown with the aim of the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
“We had to figure what’s best for the organization,” Fitterer said on Friday. “Our focus is still going out and competing every weekend. We expect to win.”
It’s been a season full of moves for the Panthers, who acquired quarterback Baker Mayfield ahead of training camp, only to see him quickly struggle as the starter before being sidelined by injury. The team also fired coach Matt Rhule after a 1-4 start.
Things in Carolina got even weirder this week when receiver Robby Anderson was kicked out of Week 6’s loss to the Rams by interim coach Steve Wilks, only to be traded to Arizona.
News of the blockbuster McCaffrey trade — which netted the Panthers San Francisco’s second, third and fouth-round picks in 2023 and a fifth-rounder in 2024 — opens up a lot of possibilities for Carolina, including trading up to the top selection.
The swap also cleared the Panthers of McCaffrey’s 2023 and 2024 salary cap hits of roughly $19.5 million and $14.5 million for 2025.
Wilks agreed with his boss’ anti-tanking notion.
“There’s no such thing as tanking when it comes to myself or the men in that locker room,” he said.
Fitterer hinted at the possibility of another deal before the Nov. 1 trade deadline but added that it would take an “astronomical” deal to get something done.
Despite that, the GM has now restocked his draft picks after having only four picks in 2023 and five in 2024. In addition to the selections acquired in the McCaffrey deal, the trade of Anderson brought in the Cardinals’ 2024 sixth-round and 2025 seventh-round picks.
“It provides a lot of options with that amount of picks,” said Fitterer, who, if the season ended today, would have the top pick. “If we don’t have to move up, it gives a lot of shots on players.”
One shot the Panthers may want to target in 2023 is a quarterback. Neither Mayfield nor Sam Darnold seem like long-term options and are currently both injured, while 2022 second-round pick Matt Corral suffered a season-ending foot injury during the preseason.
The Panthers will host division rival Tampa Bay on Sunday, looking to get Wilks his first win as head coach.
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