Ranking the top 5 most likely post-draft starting Panthers QBs in 2022

Now that the major offseason recruitment dates have been and gone, who are the most likely starting quarterbacks for the Carolina Panthers in 2022?

Although the Carolina Panthers have Sam Darnold and traded up for Matt Corral during the 2022 NFL Draft, there remains some serious doubt about just who is going to start at quarterback next season.

The team is keeping all their options open ahead of a crucial third year for head coach Matt Rhule, who can ill-afford another campaign of failure with speculation already surfacing about the Panthers potentially making a bold bid for Sean Payton in 2023.

Everything seems to be in place across other areas of the roster. So if the Panthers get their starting signal-caller right, then it could lead to some encouraging progress and a better foundation from which to build moving forward.

Without further ado, we ranked the five quarterbacks most likely to start for Carolina next season.

Quarterback No. 5

Sam Darnold – Carolina Panthers QB

As Matt Rhule and Scott Fitterer stated, Sam Darnold is the favorite right now. But a lot can happen before the Carolina Panthers take the field for their Week 1 clash against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium.

Darnold just did not do anything to convince people he can become a staring-caliber NFL quarterback. His trade from the New York Jets was a major gamble that didn’t reap the necessary rewards and had Carolina not picked up his fifth-year option, he would no longer be around.

The former USC star won’t be fretting too much with $18.85 million fully guaranteed coming his way in 2022. Finding a willing suitor has been difficult, so the Panthers might end up being stuck with him for the time being.