4 free-agent quarterbacks the Panthers could sign post-draft in 2022

Which free-agent quarterbacks could the Carolina Panthers look to acquire now that the 2022 NFL Draft has reached a conclusion?

Sam Darnold started 11 times for the Carolina Panthers in 2021 and went 4-7 in those games, throwing for 2,527 yards with nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The quarterback did struggle, but he also managed the best rushing season of his career with 222 yards on the ground and five scores.

Overall, Darnold had an up and down season as he got injured in the middle of the campaign. Once he came back, the signal-caller couldn’t find any sort of rhythm down the stretch.

Needless to say, Darnold did not solidify his status as a starter for the Panthers. Last offseason, Carolina chose to pick up his fifth-year option which resulted in an $18.85 million cap hit for this season.

In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected Matt Corral in the third round. With the addition of the Ole Miss product and with him being a rookie, the team might look to bring in a veteran quarterback to show him the ropes if they are intent on moving on entirely from Darnold.

With Darnold still pretty young and the lack of much success in the league, it might be smart to bring in a player with some valuable experience who has been successful in this league.

Cap space should not be an issue as the Panthers have the most in the NFL, roughly at 30 million before the draft.

These additions shouldn’t cost too much, would be low risk and would end up having potentially a three-man quarterback competition in training camp. If the team does decide to sign a free agent, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be the team’s starting quarterback when Week 1 rolls around.

Corral would most likely benefit from a veteran coming in and being a solid mentor for him. Here are four names that the Panthers might consider in the coming weeks.