5 dream scenarios for the Carolina Panthers in 2022

Matt Corral becomes a franchise QB for the Carolina Panthers

All the good work done by the Carolina Panthers this offseason has the chance to be offset by the ongoing quarterback conundrum that could go one way or the other at this stage. Sam Darnold remains on the books thanks in no small part to his fully guaranteed $18.85 million and after a series of failed trade moves, those in power settled for getting the top signal-caller on their draft board with little in the way of outlay.

Matt Corral‘s slide during the draft was shocking. He was expected to go late in the first round or early on Day 2, but to see him fall all the way down to No. 94 before the Panthers scooped him up was a damning indictment of what most of the league thought about his chances of thriving at the next level.

The former Ole Miss standout had arguably the best production at the highest standard of any quarterback entering the NFL this year from college. But this could be a stroke of good luck for Corral given how highly-regarded he was by the Panthers and Darnold’s perilous status as the team’s starting option.

Carolina could make another veteran move with someone like Baker Mayfield in the not-too-distant future. If they don’t, then Corral will be given every opportunity to convince the staff he can be their long-term franchise player at the position.

If Corral defies the odds and achieves this objective sooner than anticipated, then the Panthers can build their roster around a quarterback with a contract that is not going to break the bank by any stretch of the imagination.