Dwayne Haskins has withdrawn withdrawal but may not have problems landing a grid in 2021.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that the former Washington first-round pick is enjoying interest from several teams, including the Carolina Panthers, according to an informed source of the situation.
Rapoport added that Haskins is unlikely to sign before the end of the season, but the Panthers and others remain intrigued by the 23-year-old QB.
The quick demise of Haskins in Washington after only 13 starts represents both a faulty organization that brought him into the building, a new coach without connection who was never sold on the QB, as well as Haskins’ poor play and recent issues outside the field.
Other organizations are likely to view the big-arm QB as a talent who can grow into an NFL starter under the right circumstances.
The Panthers are an interesting team to take an interest in Haskins. Matt Rhule’s offense is QB-friendly, and the motivator can be the type of coach to attract the best of Haskins. Teddy Bridgewater’s contract keeps him in the city for at least another year, but there is room for a younger signal caller to grow with the veteran. PJ Walker and Will Grier are currently the Panthers’ backers, but it looks like Rhule is likely to introduce another option with a higher long-term upside.
After Sunday’s victory, Carolina, pushed into the draft board, if there are no highly regarded rookie QBs who could fall to the Panthers, Rhule can consider Haskins a worthy project that bears fruit.
Teams did not want to take on the last guaranteed years of Haskins’ rookie contract. Washington is on the hook for that. But Haskins still has the talent to be an NFL QB as he improves through his reading and learns how to better push around pressure. For the right price, in 2021 there may be several teams wanting to add the young QB as a project option.