The Carolina Panthers are committed to Sam Darnold after passing on Justin Fields and Mac Jones with the eighth pick on Thursday night.

To further cement that, the Panthers have officially exercised their option on Darnold's contract for the 2022 season.

The move guarantees the quarterback's $18.858 million salary for 2022 and sets him up to make over $23 million over the next two seasons.

Bank of America Stadium will transition from natural grass to artificial turf in time for the Carolina Panthers' preseason schedule.

The decision to switch to FieldTurf was made to guarantee a consistent surface for not only the Panthers but also other events.

The venue has used natural grass since the Panthers played their first game there in 1996.

The organization discussed the switch with the players from the Panthers and Charlotte Football Club of Major League Soccer before making the final decision.

The Carolina Panthers have agreed to trade Teddy Bridgewater to the Denver Broncos for a sixth round pick.

The Panthers signed Bridgewater in 2020 free agency and he started for them last season.

Carolina acquired Sam Darnold to assume quarterback duties this offseason. 

The Carolina Panthers have had discussions with other teams about trading down from No. 8.

The Panthers acquired a quarterback in Sam Darnold and could unload the pick for a team seeking one of the quarterbacks.

Conversations with other teams are ongoing.

The San Francisco 49ers reportedly offered the New York Jets their first-round pick -- 12th overall -- for Sam Darnold before he was dealt to the Carolina Panthers.

According to the report, the timing of the offer is a key reason the Jets didn't accept it.

The Jets were seemingly concerned about the shoulder of Zach Wilson at the time.

The 49ers didn't wait around, instead coming to terms on a deal with the Miami Dolphins allowing them to move up to third overall.

Sam Darnold is happy to have a second chance with the Carolina Panthers, but admitted that it was tough to move on from the New York Jets.

The quarterback was involved in trade rumors in recent months as the Jets explored options at the position.

"That was tough. I'm not going to lie,'' Darnold said. "That was the tough part for me, just because ... I'm a planner. I like to have things planned out and what the next step was going to be.

"The uncertainty there was, for lack of a better term, driving me insane."

The Jets used the third overall pick on Darnold in 2018.

The Carolina Panthers have given Teddy Bridgewater permission to seek a trade and multiple teams are interested, according to a report.

Bridgewater's current contract may complicate a trade. The quarterback is due a $17 million base salary for 2021, of which $10 million is guaranteed.

Carolina traded three draft picks to the New York Jets for Sam Darnold last week.

The Carolina Panthers have agreed to a deal with cornerback A.J. Bouye.

Bouye, a Pro Bowler in 2017, will be suspended for the first two games of the 2021 season as part of a six-game ban he received last year.

The 29-year-old was released by the Denver Broncos in February after appearing in only seven games because of injuries and the suspension.

Having acquired Sam Darnold, the Carolina Panthers are expected to move on from Teddy Bridgewater this offseason.

The Panthers have reportedly given Bridgewater permission to speak with other teams to help facilitate a potential trade.

Bridgewater is due a base salary of $17 million in 2021, with $10 million guaranteed. He has two years remaining on his current contract with the Panthers, including a $20 million salary due in 2022.

The New York Jets have agreed to trade Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers for a second round pick and fourth round pick in 2022 as well as a 2021 sixth rounder.

The Jets own the second overall pick and will presumably select a quarterback with Zach Wilson being the selection they have most strongly linked to.

Darnold was the third overall pick in 2018 out of USC.

Carolina signed Teddy Bridgewater during the first offseason of Matt Rhule as head coach. The Panthers previously pursued a trade for Deshaun Watson.