Carolina Panthers veteran QB, former third-round pick, abruptly retires from the NFL just days before the start of training camp
Carolina Panthers veteran quarterback Will Grier announced his retirement from the NFL days before training camp after six seasons in the league.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Will Grier just made a major decision about his NFL future, just days before the start of training camp.
Grier announced his retirement from the NFL after six seasons in the league. The Charlotte, N.C. native was drafted by his hometown in the third-round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of West Virginia and re-signed with the Panthers on a one-year deal earlier this offseason.
Grier started just two games in the NFL, both with the Panthers in 2019, yet still managed to make a name for himself in the NFL as a backup quarterback.
“Will’s a guy that I evaluated when he came out, and always loved his game,” Panthers head coach Dave Canales explained earlier this offseason. “Fiery, aggressive, style of play, big arm, accuracy and just played with a lot of energy. And so, I’ve just kinda followed him and tracked him all along this time—and he’s been on a couple of other teams.”
Besides the Panthers, he also spent time in his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, and Cincinnati Bengals.
Will Grier’s sudden retirement doesn’t do much to shake up the Panthers QB room
Even when Grier was signed earlier this offseason, he wasn’t viewed as much more than a veteran arm to get through camp and the preseason that the coaching staff had respect for. The Panthers will still be heading into camp with a QB room comprised of Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett, and rookie Haynes King.
That trio is serviceable enough and it was highly likely that these are the three arms the Panthers planned to carry into the season. Young is the unquestioned starter while Pickett provides the team with a serviceable backup. King is an enticing dual-threat talent who could be used in certain situations in a Taysom Hill-like role as a rookie, who now can get more opportunities to show what he can do as an actual QB as well during camp.
The real question now becomes, would the Panthers consider bringing in another journeyman QB who could quickly pick up the offense and handle some preseason reps? Options for that role would include Jack Plummer (who was with the Panthers last season) or John Wolford.
While it might now seem that big of a deal, the Panthers are scheduled to play four preseason games this year, starting with the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on Aug. 6 against the Arizona Cardinals. The more available arms for the preseason, the better so that the Panthers could avoid any injury risk that could come from playing Young or Pickett more than they’d have to.
Will Grier’s time in the NFL might not be fully over
Prior to joining the Panthers, Grier was offered a spot on Brian Schottenheimer’s coaching staff with the Dallas Cowboys, according to The Athletic’s Joe Person. Grier really considered the opportunity and hanging up the cleats until Canales and the Panthers called.
That goes to show the kind of football IQ Grier has and why he made it so long in the NFL despite not having the physical skills to be a starting quarterback. Coaches think highly of this guy and just because he hung up the cleats doesn’t mean his days in the NFL are fully over. He could take Schottenheimer up on that offer now, or explore other opportunities for his future.