Dwayne Haskins went unclaimed on waivers but reports immediately surfaced that teams around the NFL have already expressed interest in the former Washington Football Team quarterback. One of those teams is the Carolina Panthers, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Rapoport adds Haskins is unlikely to sign before the end of the season, but he will have options much like the Panthers going into the 2021 season.
The Panthers have Teddy Bridgewater set at starting quarterback for at least one more season. But behind him, first-year head coach Matt Rhule may be looking at a project he could turn into a long-term option at QB.
Haskins is just 23 years of age and has a strong NFL arm. His lack of experience in college, just 14 games at Ohio State, proved to be a hindrance in his development in Washington. That along with his immaturity and lack of professionalism.
Carolina runs a QB-friendly offense, that could be more inclined to fit Haskins’ lack of experience. Right now the Panthers have PJ Walker and Will Grier behind Bridgewater, but it’s questionable if Carolina sees either as realistic options to supplant Bridgewater down the line.
The Panthers’ intrigue into Haskins could turn into one of the more full circle scenarios in football. In 2019, Haskins led Washington to a win over the Panthers in Week 13 that led to the firing of head coach Ron Rivera. Rivera was later hired as Washington’s head coach. After Haskins started a game that Washington lost to Carolina last Sunday, Rivera released Haskin a year later.
The relationship between Haskins and Rivera soured with the QB’s poor play and recent off-field issues. Some would say it never really got off the ground from Day 1 when Rivera entered the organization. But as noted in the NFL Network report, Washington’s faulty structure that led to Haskins being drafted in the first place and Rivera’s lack of attachment to the QB he didn’t draft, played some part in Haskins’ quick demise in Washington.
Teams like Carolina feel under the right structure and circumstances, Haskins can develop into an NFL starter.
Whichever team opts to sign Haskins could do so on a league minimum deal. Washington is on the hook for the remaining $4.3 million in guarantees over the next two years. Although, any potential new deal would offset some of the money Washington owes.
