Panthers have few options in search for another QB

By Darin Gantt - Darin Gantt

CHARLOTTE -- The Carolina Panthers know they have to add another quarterback. The problem is finding one they'd want.

With the market for free agents effectively dead --and getting picked over more by the passing day -- the Panthers' best option to replace Jake Delhomme on the roster would most likely come via trade.

The one name that rises to the top of that list would be Oakland's Andrew Walter, a former third-round pick from Arizona State.

Walter kept a job in Oakland thanks to No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell's holdout, but now that he's in camp, they have a full depth chart with Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper. The Raiders have made it known for weeks that he's available.

The problem with a trade is that the Panthers would have to further deplete their preferred resource --draft picks. They already gave up next year's fifth-rounder for Chicago safety Chris Harris, when they fell short at that position in training camp.

There's a school of thought that would make former Dallas (but more importantly, New England) starter Drew Bledsoe a fit, but he's said to be happily retired. Other free agents on the market include Tim Hasselbeck and Tim Rattay, though Rattay is rumored to be on Arizona's radar this week.

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said Monday night the team was still looking at options, but that no workouts were held Monday or scheduled for today.

"We have a pretty good idea who's out there," Hurney said.