Carolina Panthers select Sam Howell in early 2022 NFL mock draft

The Carolina Panthers could be in with a shout at drafting North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell according to a recent 2022 NFL mock draft.

Although we are some way off from finding out exactly what the Carolina Panthers will need during the 2022 NFL Draft, it doesn’t prevent analysts across the country from making their way-too-early predictions.

There is so much football to be played between now and when the Panthers are on the clock. But one thing that cannot be disputed is who the most exciting college prospects are entering the 2021 season.

Players always come from nowhere, obviously.

However, there are some noteworthy candidates to be selected early in the first round judging by what we’ve seen from them so far.

And according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com, that is exactly where Carolina will be picking once again.

The senior draft analyst isn’t confident in the Panthers making strides next season, putting them at No. 5 overall next spring. This would be nothing short of a disaster for Matt Rhule in the second year of his reign and would almost certainly guarantee that their decision to acquire Sam Darnold from the New York Jets didn’t work out as expected.

Campbell is of the opinion Darnold’s career cannot be resurrected. In his latest mock, he has the Panthers taking a prospect very close to home who could provide some much-needed stability at the most important position on the field.

The guy is North Carolina‘s potential stud, Sam Howell.

Sam Howell would be a popular choice by the Carolina Panthers.

One of the hottest names in college football lost a lot of weapons this offseason when the likes of Dyami Brown, Michael Carter, Javonte Williams, and Dazz Newsome took their chances at the next level. If Howell can put up his usual big numbers without this level of assistance, then a possible Heisman Trophy and a top-five pick next year is a distinct possibility.

"“The Panthers are hoping they can salvage Sam Darnold. Matt Rhule has already shown he has a quick hook for quarterbacks, so if Darnold doesn’t play well behind Carolina’s weak offensive line, Rhule could be looking for another trigger man. Sam Howell has quality arm talent but lacks size. It will be interesting to see how he performs in 2021 after losing a lot of the playmakers around him to the 2021 NFL Draft.”"

This would be a popular selection within the team’s fanbase. Howell is a hometown hero to a certain extent who has the ability to make things happen at the drop of a hat.

Whether this can make a smooth transition to the NFL is unclear. As stated previously, plenty can happen between now and when it’s time for Carolina to decide which direction to go.

In an ideal world, Darnold will grasp this chance with both hands and provide a stable presence under center.

However, there isn’t much evidence to suggest this is possible.

If Darnold does end up fluffing his lines with so much talent around him, then Carolina will be back to square one in pursuit of a long-term answer. Another bold trade for someone like Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson isn’t out of the question, but the Panthers won’t get a better chance to select a potentially elite prospect from the college system.

Howell has a lot going for him. In his two seasons with the Tarheels, he’s thrown for 7,227 yards, 68 touchdowns, and just 14 interceptions, boasting a completion percentage of 64.4 and a passer efficiency rating of 168.8 to further enhance his reputation.

At 6-foot-1, Howell is not your stereotypical height for an NFL quarterback. But plenty of undersized players have enjoyed a phenomenal amount of success in recent years.

This should ensure Howell has more than his fair share of suitors during the evaluation process. Whether the Panthers will be one of them remains to be seen.