5 studs the Panthers should monitor from Senior Bowl practice Day 2
By Dean Jones
Carson Strong – QB (Nevada)
Although the 2022 NFL Draft class isn’t expected to be particularly strong at the quarterback position, there are a few intriguing prospects to keep a close eye on during the evaluation process.
The Carolina Panthers could be on the lookout for a longer-term fit under center after Sam Darnold’s unimpressive 2021 season following his trade from the New York Jets, but they’d have to be absolutely convinced it was the right call to make with no Day 2 selection to speak of.
One player that has more hype than most is Carson Strong. The Nevada product has an absolute cannon for an arm and this was on full display during an eye-catching second practice at the 2022 Senior Bowl in difficult weather conditions.
Strong has a tremendous amount going for him, even though the standard of competition wasn’t exactly SEC level during his time in college. That being said, the signal-caller certainly made a big impression and if he keeps this up throughout the week in Mobile, then it will make more than a few quarterback-needy teams sit up and take notice.
It doesn’t appear likely that Strong would be ready to start right away if the Panthers went in this direction. But having Darnold on the books for a guaranteed $18.85 million gives them a bridge option until a college prospect is ready to assume command.