4 reasons the Carolina Panthers won’t take a QB in the 2022 NFL Draft

2022 QB class isn’t the best

If the 2021 quarterback class was packed with Day 1 starters and potentially generational talents, the same cannot be said of this year’s crop. The Carolina Panthers passed on the opportunity to select Justin Fields or Mac Jones at No. 8 overall, taking their chances on Sam Darnold and picking a shutdown cornerback in Jaycee Horn instead.

While Horn certainly looked the part before breaking his foot, Darnold’s ongoing complications with footwork and progressions continue to frustrate. If Jones or Fields become franchise signal-callers, this will be seen as a huge error by the organization.

Teams always get quarterback thirsty around draft time. But outside of perhaps Malik Willis and Sam Howell, one couldn’t say with any confidence that any other prospect is ready to assume command of responsibilities under center.

Spencer Rattler’s drop-off from No. 1 overall selection candidate to being benched by Oklahoma was alarming. Matt Corral and Carson Strong both have questions to answer and Desmond Ridder may need a year or two to develop.

Drafting a development project at this stage of Carolina’s rebuild just isn’t that smart. It should have been done last year or in 2020.

Carolina made their bed, now they have to lie in it. Hitting the reset button at the most important position on the field entering Year 3 would be the clearest sign yet things aren’t developing as expected.