It sounds like Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule isn't all that committed to Teddy Bridgewater after all.
With the 2020 NFL Draft set to get underway in about two weeks, Rhule said the Panthers could possibly draft a quarterback in the first round, hinting that maybe Bridgewater isn't his QB of the future.
Matt Rhule said he wouldn't rule out taking a QB at No. 7 or with a lower round pick. He said won't overlook a great player regardless of need. Mentions he is preparing for the next 12 years not the next 12 months.
— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) April 8, 2020
With LSU quarterback Joe Burrow likely going first overall to the Cincinnati Bengals, that leaves Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert and Jordan Love on the table for the Panthers ... of course, if they aren't selected before their seventh-overall pick.
At this point, it's a toss up to see where Tagovailoa will land because he missed time last season with a hip injury and was unable to perform at the combine.
As for the other two quarterbacks, Love is expected to go towards the end of the first round, somewhere between picks 25-32 and Herbert could go as high as fifth overall.
If Bridgewater will be some sort of placeholder for the Panthers until they can bring in a QB out of college, then they couldn't have picked anyone better to do it. The 27-year-old went 5-0 for the New Orleans Saints in 2019 with a 67.9 completion percentage, 1,384 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
He's been a winner with both the Saints and Minnesota Vikings, so it will be interesting to see how he handles the starting role in Carolina. That is, of course, if a potential draftee doesn't steal it from him (but that's doubtful).
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