Carolina Panthers 53-man roster predictions following 2022 NFL Draft
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers QBs
- Sam Darnold, Matt Corral.
After Sam Darnold failed to meet expectations following his trade from the New York Jets, it was essential for the Carolina Panthers to find a better option. Perhaps not in the immediate future, but certainly a player capable of assuming command under center with a little more refinement.
Ambitious trades for Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson didn’t come off. The Panthers rightfully resisted the temptation to reach for a signal-caller at No. 6 overall, but when Matt Corral slid into the third round, it was another opportunity Carolina couldn’t pass up.
The Ole Miss product looks like the perfect scheme fit for Ben McAdoo’s system. The offensive coordinator was banging the table heavily for Corral according to Scott Fitterer, so this represents a tremendous landing spot for the prospect providing his transition goes smoothly.
Darnold is obviously the starter right now. It will also be hard to remove him completely from the equation after the Panthers triggered his fifth-year option with a guaranteed $18.85 million.
However, the Panthers should treat Corral’s arrival as a true quarterback competition rather than a development project. Something that Darnold has yet to experience after having things all his own way throughout a troubled professional career so far.
It will be fascinating to watch. And make no mistake, Corral will push Darnold right to the brink.