5 draft prospects that could help Sam Darnold most in 2022
By Dean Jones
John Metchie III could help Sam Darnold
Another thing that went somewhat overlooked that didn’t help Sam Darnold in the slightest was a lack of consistency in the passing game. This has a lot to do with almost no protection for whoever was under center, but outside of D.J. Moore there was no real stability after Robby Anderson regressed, Christian McCaffrey got injured, and second-round pick Terrace Marshall Jr. didn’t make any sort of impression.
That has to change this offseason. Hopefully, the likes of Marshall and Shi Smith can make strides and Anderson can put his bad season behind him and return to the player we saw throughout his first year on the Carolina Panthers in 2020.
However, getting another exciting wide receiver from the college ranks would be a shrewd move. Scott Fitterer would need to get some Day 2 picks to stand a chance of landing John Metchie III, but the Alabama product would be an instant game-changer providing the injury he suffered during the college football playoffs isn’t too severe.
Metchie is a smooth route-runner with tremendous ball skills. He has some insane ability when it comes to gaining yards after the catch and is polished enough to assist all over the field for good measure.
It’s highly unlikely Metchie is going to drop below the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. So if the Panthers like what they see from the player, then trading back from No. 6 will be the only way they’ll have a shot at landing him.
If they do, then there would be nobody happier than Darnold.