4 best and worst-case scenarios for Panthers QB Matt Corral in 2022
By Dean Jones
Matt Corral starts mid-season and makes a splash
The Carolina Panthers are not in any great rush for Matt Corral to start. General manager Scott Fitterer stated it would be a process to get the signal-caller up to speed, but this is obviously a fluid situation and something that might change depending on how things transpire in training camp and the early stages of the campaign.
Sam Darnold has already proven incapable of leading an NFL team at the most important position on the field. His clear flaws that were evident throughout his time on the New York Jets were not rectified in Carolina and even if the signal-caller gets a reprieve, it won’t take much for the Panthers to pull the plug entirely.
In truth, this would have been done already had the Panthers not picked up his fifth-year option with a fully guaranteed $18.85 million. But allowing Darnold to start would provide Corral with a little extra breathing space to learn from the sidelines and familiarize himself with an NFL atmosphere.
If things go as expected for Darnold and the Panthers don’t acquire another veteran via trade, then the chances of Corral coming in mid-season are high. This might also give the locker room an extra source of motivation with a player that could end up being the team’s long-term option under center.