4 reasons Sam Darnold should not be Carolina Panthers QB in 2022
By Luke Gray
What are some reasons that Sam Darnold should not start for the Carolina Panthers in 2022 despite the team picking up his option?
A torrid 2021 NFL season has finally ended for the Carolina Panthers. After a 3-0 start and dreams of a winning record were quickly dashed, Carolina went 2-12 and currently looks like the worst coached and most disorganized team in the NFL.
Sam Darnold, who to not many people’s surprise endured a dismal season after flashing in the 3-0 start, reverted quickly to the mess we saw when he was a member of the New York Jets. The quarterback ended the campaign with 12 total touchdowns and 20 turnovers in 11 games played.
For comparison, Cam Newton ended the season with nine total touchdowns and eight turnovers in just seven games following his bombshell return before Week 10 at the Arizona Cardinals.
Head coach Matt Rhule heads into his famous third year with a 10-23 record and a lot of work is needed. With a tough schedule ahead in 2022, it’s tough to see the former Baylor man steering this floundering ship around.
Hitching his wagon to Darnold, giving up three draft picks to the Jets, was a gamble that didn’t pay off. Picking up his fifth-year option without getting a chance to evaluate his production in a different environment was even worse.
With this in mind, here are four reasons why Darnold shouldn’t be starting under center for Carolina in 2022.