4 pressing items remaining for the Carolina Panthers this offseason
By Dean Jones
What pressing items remain for Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer that should be tackled during the upcoming 2022 preparation period?
It’s been refreshing to see the Carolina Panthers put general manager Scott Fitterer front and center throughout the 2022 offseason. This was down in no small part in an attempt to take some heat off head coach Matt Rhule but welcome, nonetheless.
Fitterer is a respected figure across the league who has made a tremendous impression from the moment he joined the Panthers. His first two drafts were encouraging and although there’s been the odd mistake in the trade market, it’s been far more positive than not where the front office man is concerned.
A patient, methodical approach to recruitment this offseason could indicate that Fitterer is getting more sway in how things are run. Even though Rhule is likely still having a significant role in personnel moves as per his whopping seven-year, $62 million contract.
With this in mind, here are four pressing items that Fitterer still has on his to-do list before the real action begins in 2022.
Pressing Item No. 1
Carolina Panthers must make decisions on recent arrests
As if the Carolina Panthers didn’t have enough to worry about this offseason.
No fewer than three players have been subject to arrests since the 2021 campaign came to a conclusion, which leaves Scott Fitterer awaiting more information on the situations surrounding Shi Smith, Ian Thomas, and Damien Wilson before coming to a formal conclusion.
Wilson’s charges are set to be far more concerning than the other two. Depending on what transpires in the not-too-distant future, the Panthers might be left with no option other than to release the linebacker before he’s even played a competitive down.
It’s business as usual for the time being. But that might not be the case for much longer and Fitterer has to be prepared for every eventuality.