Could the Carolina Panthers ignore the most important position on the field when it comes to next year’s 2022 NFL Draft?
Their fate has yet to be determined in 2021. But some senior figures within the Carolina Panthers are already looking towards the offseason and putting the necessary plans in place to keep the organization progressing.
It promises to be another hugely eventful period with plenty of established players looking for new deals. The prospect of strengthening in free agency and the 2022 NFL Draft is also set to have a big say on their future aspirations.
Although we are now officially at the midway stage of the campaign, it’s not hard to figure out just where the Panthers need to bolster in pursuit of legitimate postseason contention. Matt Rhule will be under enormous pressure in Year 3 – which is the time his college programs took a substantial leap forward – so he won’t ant any weak links putting him on the hot seat.
Carolina might also be on the lookout for their third quarterback in as many offseasons. The Teddy Bridgewater experiment was cut short in favor of Sam Darnold, whose regression without Christian McCaffrey has thrown his long-term future in doubt despite a very promising start over the first three weeks.
There is still a lot of football to be played. If Darnold can get the Panthers an unlikely playoff spot, then it might give him a reprieve after the team picked up his fifth-year option shortly after he was traded from the New York Jets.
Speaking on this topic, here are four reasons why the Panthers won’t select a quarterback during the 2022 NFL Draft.
Carolina Panthers need an OL makeover
If there is one area the Carolina Panthers need to focus their attention on next season, it’s the offensive line. This was a group that came into the current campaign with more than a few concerns, something that’s been evident over the first nine games.
Unless things change regarding the protection, then it doesn’t really matter who is playing under center.
One could make a case for multiple new arrivals in this area of the field next spring. John Miller and Matt Paradis are both looking for new contracts, with free-agent signings Cam Erving and Pat Elflein as advertised and not up to the required standard.
Cutting both with one year remaining on their respective deals would cost the Panthers around $9 million in dead cap money. Making the decision to hand them two-year contracts despite their distinct lack of production elsewhere was a grave error in judgment.
Dennis Daley is another on the chopping block, although Michael Jordan has looked like a player of promise since being installed into the starting lineup.
Much will depend on the development of Brady Christensen and Deonte Brown. But the Panthers aren’t particularly high on either at this juncture and building a completely new offensive line – starting with a franchise left tackle in Round 1 – could end up being a necessity during the draft.
Carolina Panthers don’t have a Day 2 pick
It’s been a frenzied period of trade activity for the Carolina Panthers since general manager Scott Fitterer was chosen as the man to replace Marty Hurney. This was in keeping with his “in on every deal” mindset upon joining the organization, which has the roster looking stronger now than at any stage last season.
With that being said, these moves mean the Panthers don’t currently possess a Day 2 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. They gave their second-rounder to the New York Jets as part of the Sam Darnold deal, with their third-round selection belonging to the Jacksonville Jaguars in order to acquire cornerback C.J. Henderson.
If Carolina cannot get some capital back by trading down in the first round or sacrificing a player or two, it puts the Panthers in a complicated position.
Should they ignore the left tackle position in Round 1, then they might miss out on a franchise prospect and rely on a mid-rounder who may or may not work out.
As stated previously, selecting a quarterback is all well and good. But what chance will a first-year player be behind porous protection?
Carolina should focus their attention on getting a premier blindside protector and worry about the rest later. Even though that means another year of Darnold under center.
Carolina Panthers might go big-game hunting
It’s been no secret that the Carolina Panthers were ready and willing to make a big splash to acquire Deshaun Watson before his legal problems surfaced. Multiple reports suggested team owner David Tepper was intent on landing the NFL’s passing leader from the Houston Texans and was willing to part ways with multiple high-end draft selections to do so.
Watson’s serious complications away from the gridiron saw nobody pull the trigger on a trade before the deadline. But if the Clemson product or someone else becomes available next offseason, then Carolina will explore every possible avenue in pursuit of improvement.
There could be a number of prolific quarterbacks on the block or looking for new homes in 2022. Outside of the obvious in Watson, the future of Russell Wilson is coming in for increased speculation and it remains to be seen whether Aaron Rodgers stays with the Green Bay Packers beyond this season.
The free-agent pool appears slim with the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Tyrod Taylor, Nick Foles, Marcus Mariota, and Jameis Winston among the options. So the Panthers need to go big-game hunting if they want to get a potential upgrade on Sam Darnold.
This will be something Tepper pushes for. Whether it comes off or not is another matter entirely.
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.