4 pros and cons to the Carolina Panthers drafting Kenny Pickett in 2022
By Dean Jones
Kenny Pickett has transferrable skills to help the Carolina Panthers
A steady riser up draft boards in recent months, Kenny Pickett could be in contention to become the first quarterback taken in the 2022 NFL Draft providing he gains further momentum during his upcoming bowl game and throughout the assessment process.
The Carolina Panthers will do their due diligence.
Make no mistake about that.
And if those in power like what they see and he’s still available when they are on the clock, the front office could very well pull the trigger as shocking as that would be.
The key here is transferrable skills. Many prospects at the position come into the league with the right physical and mental attributes, but few manage to transition them effectively into a professional environment.
Pickett has the arm strength to succeed. He also has no trouble escaping the pocket and making things happen on the run.
His fake slide against Wake Forest went viral and was a testament to his athleticism. Although the player would be wise not to try anything like that at the next level versus defenders who’ll fold him up at the first opportunity.
Another thing that bodes well for Pickett is processing and leadership. These are two key traits behind any successful quarterback and something the Pittsburgh star possesses in abundance.
Someone is going to fall in love with Pickett enough to use a top-10 pick on him or potentially trade-up. That is just the way it works in the NFL where the quarterback is king.
If that team is Carolina, it will come with franchise-altering repercussions one way or another.