Panthers out of the running in Deshaun Watson sweepstakes

And it’s down to two. The Panthers have been informed that they’re out in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That leaves the Falcons and Saints as the final remaining suitors for the Texans QB.

The Panthers had been connected to Watson for the better part of a year, and they were one of the four teams to meet with the QB. We learned earlier Thursday that the Browns were the first loser of the Watson sweepstakes, and now we can include the Panthers to the list.

While the Browns find themselves in a messy situation following the fallout from Watson’s decision, the Panthers won’t really have to deal with those kind of issues, and they’ll still probably be in the hunt for a QB. Sam Darnold struggled during his first season in Carolina, with Cam Newton and P.J. Walker also getting looks in 2021.

So when will we get a resolution on the Watson trade? We may have to wait through the weekend, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com. The reporter writes that the QB “will take some time to think things over,” and he could use the weekend to make his decision. The Falcons bought themselves some extra time when they delayed Matt Ryan‘s impending roster bonus. Meanwhile, the cap-strapped Saints have continued to carve out some space for a potential trade.