Sam Darnold 'in the lead' for Carolina Panthers quarterback job, general manager Scott Fitterer says

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer, less than a month after saying the starting quarterback job was «open,'' on Friday said Sam Darnold was „in the lead for that job.''

“We want him to take it and run with it,'' Fitterer said. „But we're gonna add a lot of competition to that room. The whole emphasis is to stabilize the quarterback position to play winning football.

“That's what we're working towards.''

A lot has transpired to alter Fitterer's thought process, starting with Carolina's failure to acquire Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson in a trade with Houston.

Watson ultimately picked Cleveland over Carolina, New Orleans and Atlanta. The Panthers were ruled out, according to a league source, because they wouldn't guarantee the third and fourth years on Watson's contract.

Watson ultimately got a new deal with the Browns in which he got a five-year, $230 million deal fully guaranteed.

And while Fitterer wouldn't admit to disappointment over not getting Watson, he believes the roster is better than it was a year ago and the Panthers are „two steps closer'' to winning the NFC South.

That said, Fitterer didn't rule out using the No. 6 pick of the April draft on a quarterback or adding another quarterback before the draft via trade or free agency to compete with Darnold.

The most high-profile quarterback available is Cleveland's Baker Mayfield, who requested a trade when the Browns began pursuing Watson. The Panthers currently are not interested in trading for Mayfield, according to a league source.

“We're monitoring all that,'' Fitterer said without addressing Mayfield specifically. „Nothing that we're going to do immediately.''

Carolina has salary cap room, around $28 million, to make a