There has been rampant speculation in the past months that Steve Smith would privately ask to be traded if the Panthers drafted a developmental QB.
With all indications pointing to that becoming a reality, ESPN reports that Steve Smith has cleaned out his locker and removed the decorations from the private suite his family used on game days.
Now while this is not a declaration that he is leaving per se, it does make the rumor a reality.
Steve Smith is at the tail-end of his career and deserves to be playing for a championship, or at the very least battling for the playoffs, something that no one expects to happen this season with Clausen or Newton at the helm.
If the Panthers do go ahead and select Newton the smart money is on the Panthers trading Smith.
But that begs the question: Just who is Cam Newton going to throw the ball to?
Free agents notwithstanding: Brandon LaFell, David Gettis and Armanti Edwards does not a receiving corps make.
The free agent class has some interesting names such as Braylon Edwards, Malcolm Floyd, Sidney Rice and Santonio Holmes, but does anyone seriously expect the notoriously thrifty Panthers to shell out the cash to land a top free agent receiver?
Neither do I.
What this news should do is make GM Marty Hurney rethink his draft plans with the realization that wide receivers as special as A.J Green are extremely hard to find.
Losing one of the best receivers in the NFL is a major blow to any franchise and will cripple Cam Newton’s chances of success in his first season as a Panther.
I mean maybe the impetus here is to suffer through another long, laborious, painful season for draft position next year but Panthers fans and myself would rather go back to competing right away.
A.J Green and a 3rd round QB + Jimmy Clausen sounds a lot better than Cam Newton, Jimmy Clausen and some 3rd round wideout yet to be named.
Doesn’t it?
2 Comments
i say trade him , with him or without, the panthers are rebuilding, and have little chance for the playoffs. panthers need so much. if the organization thinks clausen can perform better with green than pick him, because more than likely they will get the #1 pick again next year, and then get Luck, which is who they wanted… if clausen is not the man , they have to get one of the rookies in the draft.that would make clausen work harder, maybe even better…
My preference is trade down and pick patrick peterson( go with the sure thing ) pay the money get hasslebeck or mcnabb in FA.. trade smitty to new england for a 2nd rd pick , bring in a vet receiver or 2 ,and roll the dice
Hey Chris,
I agree, trading him can some key assets for the rebuild and he deserves to play for a contender at this stage in his career