Would drafting a QB indicate long-term confidence in Matt Rhule?

Could selecting a quarterback at No. 6 overall during the 2022 NFL Draft indicate a level of long-term confidence in head coach Matt Rhule?

Another swing and a miss at the quarterback position has Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule on the brink. Sacrificing three draft picks to land Sam Darnold from the New York Jets didn’t come with an upturn in production from the former first-round pick and based on multiple recent reports, the organization has already begun an aggressive process that could see a third starting signal-caller in as many years.

Rhule might be classed as a coach, but he also gets the final say on personnel moves. This was a stipulation in his contract to convince the former Baylor man to join Carolina ahead of the New York Giants – a team he spent time working as an assistant before accumulating a strong program-building reputation in college.

This has yet to make a smooth transition to the NFL as yet. A catastrophic collapse in 2021 that saw the Panthers lose 12 of their final 14 games saw calls for Rhule to be removed, but team owner David Tepper still has some faith he can turn things around during a crucial third year at the helm.

Obviously, the Panthers are going to do everything in their power to secure a productive veteran in the trade market. Players like Jimmy Garroppolo and Kirk Cousins appear most realistic, with Deshaun Watson’s deeply concerning legal situation also being monitored closely.

Matt Rhule could buy some time with a college quarterback

If this fails to materialize, then Carolina might go down the draft route. Although the 2022 class isn’t deemed that strong compared to last year when the Panthers could have taken either Justin Fields or Mac Jones at No. 8 overall.

The likes of Kenny Pickett, Sam Howell, Malik Willis, and Matt Corral could be productive starters one day. But they’ll need time to adjust during their rookie seasons and this is something Rhule and the Panthers simply don’t have given how things transpired last time around.

However, if the Panthers did end up taking a quarterback at No. 6 overall or with a trade-down, then it could be the biggest indicator yet of Tepper’s confidence in Rhule long-term.

This was a sentiment that was echoed by Joe Person of The Athletic during an appearance on Minute Media‘s “The 4 Man Rush Podcast“, who said a college quarterback and Rhule being on the hot seat is not a winning combination.

"“If they do, it will be a sign that David Tepper still believes in Matt Rhule. I don’t think he’ll sign off on a quarterback at No. 6 and keep Rhule on the hot seat. The two things don’t jive very well, but who knows. It’s early in the process. If they take a quarterback then it almost resets Rhule.”"

This probably won’t come into the team’s train of thought. However, using their first-round pick on a promising college prospect only for a new coaching staff to come in after one year with a completely different evaluation just doesn’t seem smart.

Rhule knows that any further failings next season could cost him his job. This is also why the Panthers are going to exhaust every avenue in free agency or the trade market before focusing on the draft.

There are plenty of moving parts here. But this is yet another layer to examine throughout a crucial offseason period for Rhule and the Panthers.