Matt Corral must shine in preseason games
One suspects that the Carolina Panthers will give Matt Corral all he can handle during their preseason games before competitive action begins. This will be the biggest indicator as to how much the quarterback has taken on board throughout the preparation period and set the bar for what the player could be capable of in the short and long term.
Everything will be moving much faster for Corral against elite performers every week than it ever did in college. The preseason is also a time when professionals are fighting for depth chart positions and jobs, which only increases the sense of urgency more often than not.
The Panthers already know what they have in Darnold, who’ll likely only play a handful of snaps and perhaps a half in one preseason game. So this is another big opportunity for Corral to further stake his claim in a bid to become the team’s starter from Week 1 or soon after.
If he can do this, it would be a shock.
If Corral cannot, then it’s not the end of the world.
What’s important for the Panthers is making sure the staff knows what they have in Corral before the season is out. Unless those in power are truly convinced, it’s unlikely to stop them from taking a long look at what is expected to be an exceptional 2023 draft class.