Internal NFL Observations: Don’t Underestimate David Tepper and the Panthers in Deshaun Watson’s Draw

There remains some confusion as to what was actually reported, or speculated, or simply made up about the Carolina Panthers and some commercial offerings to Deshaun Watson earlier this week.

But I can assure you one thing: Carolina is beyond in love with Watson and owner David Tepper is quite consumed by the prospect of winning him over and no matter what happens to this young transcendent quarterback (and I still believe he will be traded in some moment), Panthers will play some role in the process. They may not be able to hold it in the final analysis, and others clearly have greater draft capital, but when it comes to Watson, Tepper’s goal is true and his desire is real.

Tepper, the billionaire’s billionaire, has been more patient with this franchise so far than many had predicted. But this should in no way lead anyone to think that he is a particularly patient man by nature, and the change in the team’s office last year is certainly indicative of this. The Panthers are entering their second year under coach Matt Rhule, and Tepper is ready and eager to spend to try to get his last club (5-11) to make significant gains after just fixing and adjusting and trying to rebuild through the draft to this point.

More specifically, I was told that Tepper has outgrown the idea of ​​a “game manager” in the position of a defender and is ready to attack the best young and proven football player who could potentially be available. fixed at Watson for a number of reasons. Tepper, the sources said, is overcoming the need to watch his team operate with Cam Newton navigating through injuries, or Kyle Allen trying to show that he is more than a low-level reserve, or Teddy Bridgewater sinks and protects football, with clear limitations on how bold and adventurous a field attack would be.

Now, entering his fourth season at the helm and having spent most of his time as a minority Steelers investor watching Ben Roethlisberger play the position with abandon and cunning on his way to a career in the Hall of Fame, Tepper broke up with the caretaker , band-aid, we will see the quarterback model. He made it clear to everyone in the organization and to his confidants in the NFL that he desperately wants to become quarterback coverage, believing that it is the most critical element in elevating the team to the heights – both in rank and financially – that he seeks to fly high.

And Watson, the sources said, is by far his face.

Never underestimate the relationship between business and sport, and Tepper bought this club – basically in cash – due, in large part, to his view of the Panthers as a true regional anchor. He saw them as a team that, if managed properly, could attract fans from various states and its name “Carolina”, not “Charlotte” or “North Carolina”, already spoke to that model. This should be the team for all Carolinas and beyond, filling a gap between Atlanta and Washington, and Tepper quickly started making immediate infrastructure concessions for that purpose.

Announcing that he would be moving the team’s training facilities across the border to South Carolina, where the training camp had already been held, was a strong nod in that direction. Giving Rhule the kind of money and term in his contract, unlike most NFL coaches the first time (even talented college coaches), was another (this is SEC country, after all, and the college fandom is deeper than the overall profits in that region). Securing the face of the Christian McCaffrey franchise for a recording contract for a running back was another, and landing Watson would be the crown jewel.

Just remember where Watson threw his college ball – soon after, in South Carolina, at Clemson – to see why he would have a special appeal for this franchise. What better way for Tepper to further build his brand as the team of all Carolinas and beyond, than to attract the most talented NFL quarterback in the franchise’s history, not even at its peak, already guaranteed by a long-term contract. did the Texans negotiate for you?

Makes sense, right?

Except for having the general first choice and being able to select Clemson’s quarterback Trevor Lawrence with her, this exchange would be the best move Tepper could perform for that purpose. And after going through the laborious process of drafting and developing, those who know Tepper believe that future choices from the first round are simply burning their pockets when it comes to the opportunity to get Watson out of Texas. That won’t stop the Panthers in the least, with this spring’s eighth overall selection just an appetizer.

And although I don’t believe that the Panthers actually offered three first-round choices, in addition to McCaffrey, for Watson … I absolutely believe that they would make this transaction in an instant. Don’t expect Texans to seriously enjoy Watson’s move much closer to the project – all the better to keep trying to raise the price – but if / when they do, the Panthers will be motivated to make that happen. Yes, the Jets and Dolphins, for a start, may have more additional draft capital, but I suspect that the Panthers will be willing to be quite creative (including the emerging Brian Burns passing force in any package may be even more attractive than McCaffrey, The double threat running back could certainly start an offensive resurgence for any young QB, if Texans prefer to scale a passer in case Watson is in fact traded).

Tepper has just been average at best (7-9 is his best result with a team and team he inherited), and the fact that the team’s record is 17-31 under his ownership is not lost by anyone in that organization . Another year for Bridgewater at the helm is beyond improbable at this point, even with $ 10 million of his $ 17 million in salary already secured, and if he is there it will be because the Panthers failed to win Watson, and the defender selected eighth in general, not ready to debut (this will be another off-season compromised by the pandemic, remember, with players unlikely to be in camp until the start of the training camps, which can be truncated and / or delayed too ).

The owner is consumed with getting a true quarterback of the franchise, which can transform the team’s luck on and off the field and make Panthers games more attractive to fans and sponsors. The rating increase could only help his hopes of one day secure a true state-of-the-art sports and entertainment complex – preferably with a retractable roof – worthy of hosting the Super Bowls and NCAA championships, something Tepper covets.

He’s already on a $ 1 billion project for the team’s new headquarters, due to open in 2023, and the question of financing for significant improvements at Bank of America Stadium has persisted long before Jerry Richardson was embarrassed to sell. the franchise in the first place, put. A $ 50 million project is already underway to renovate the stadium in preparation for the arrival of an MLS franchise in 2022, and it’s no secret that Tepper is eyeing a huge lot near the Bank of America Stadium to eventually build the stadium of your dreams.

This is not someone used to hearing no or not getting what they want. Tepper may be the wealthiest of all the NFL owners – with a net worth of around $ 12 billion, an industry publishing project – and when he becomes obsessed with something, the people around him tend to notice. These construction projects take time, and public support, winning a prominent defender, does not take, and is much more immediate. Another necessary step in the process, the one that the owner wants to start bearing more successful fruits.

It has been a long time since Newton was playing as an MVP in Carolina; well before Tepper took over the franchise. Tepper wants your guy. He wants it now. Or at least as soon as possible. Watson fits the description in every way possible.

So get ready to hear a lot more about the Panthers and the Texas quarterback over the weeks. Some things may seem strange. Some don’t. But I predict that Carolina is willing to pay a very high price to get Watson, and Watson’s decision to never play for Houston again cannot be ruled out.