Report: Panthers offered more than first-round pick for Matthew Stafford

The Carolina Panthers were among several teams targeting Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions before the franchise traded the veteran quarterback to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jared Goff and draft picks. It appears they made a rather large offer, too.

According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Panthers offered the Lions their 2021 first-round pick, eighth overall, and more for Stafford. Carolina's eighth overall selection wound up being the highest pick offered, Breer says. 

The Panthers have Teddy Bridgewater under contract for at least one more season, and he'll likely remain the franchise's starter unless Carolina drafts a quarterback it feels is better. In his first season with the Panthers, Bridgewater went 4-11, completing 69.1% of his passes for 3,733 yards and 15 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. He also ran for 279 yards and five scores. 

Landing Stafford would have been a franchise-altering move for the Panthers, but now they're stuck wondering what could have been. 

Although they lost out on Stafford, the Panthers are reportedly expected to take a similar approach in trying to acquire Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. However, Stafford's high price tag probably drove up the asking price for Watson. 

According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans want two first-rounders, two second-rounders and two young defensive starters in any deal for Watson. It's unclear if the Panthers would be willing to give up all of those assets.