Theare planning to keepin town for at least the next two seasons after a blockbuster trade with the Jets brought the quarterback to Carolina. The Panthers are expected to pick up Darnold's fifth-year option, . Carolina has until May 3 to pick up Darnold's option.Darnold would receive $18.858 million guaranteed in 2022 if the Panthers pick up his option. Given how much the Panthers gave up to acquire him (a 2021 sixth-round Leonys Martin Jersey pick and second- and fourth-round picks in 2022), the likeline s of Carolina keeping Darnold around is not too surprising.While many early mock drafts had the Panthers selecting former North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance, a majority of recent mocks have projected Carolina going Yan Gomes Jersey somewhere else with the No. 8 overall pick. Each of our four CBS Sports NFL Draft experts either Northwestern's Rashawn Slater or Oregon's Penei Sewell with the pick to protect their new QB. Carolina could also trade back in the first round, given the offensive line depth in this year's draft.As it currently stands Andrew Miller Jersey , the Panthers' depth chart at quarterback consists of Darnold, (last year's starting quarterback), P.J. Walker and . The Panthers could elect to trade Bridgewater, who completed over 69% of his pa ses last season. One team that may be interested in Bridgewater is the , who could also be a po sible trade partner should Carolina decide to move back in the first round. While there are questions surrounding Darnold's abilities, there are no questions as it relates to his excitement to be a member of the Panthers. Darnold, who recently worked out with Panthers running back , has said nothing but positive things about his new team. Still just 23 years old, Darnold comes to Carolina following a tumultuous three-year run with the . And despite Tyler Clippard Jersey some of his struggles in New York, Panthers coach Matt Rhule clearly sees something in the former No. 3 overall pick."To go from being unwanted to being wanted is huge," earlier this month. "Getting that news that you're going to be traded, of a team saying, 'Hey, we didn't want you," for whatever reason, is hard. "But right now, I feel great about it, and I Josh Tomlin Jersey 'm excited to get here, and get started."