The most overrated player on each Panthers NFC South rival in 2022
By Dean Jones
Who are the most overrated players on the Carolina Panthers’ NFC South divisional rivals ahead of the 2022 season?
The Carolina Panthers have more than a few questions to answer before thinking about competing for an NFC South divisional title in 2022. They have been also-rans for some time now and with concerns at the quarterback position and the defensive front seven, it needs a monumental leap forward to become competitive next time around.
That shouldn’t be a surprise to fans, who’ve seen all three divisional opponents win or compete in Super Bowls in recent years. Carolina almost got their elusive first ring in 2015, but it’s been a steady trend downward since and especially following David Tepper purchasing the Panthers from Jerry Richardson.
It’s been an eventful offseason across the NFC South. Some famous faces left and in Tom Brady’s case returned, but there could be a slight opportunity for progress if Matt Rhule can finally get the Panthers on the right trajectory.
On this topic, we picked out the most overrated player on each of the Panthers’ divisional rivals in 2022.
The most overrated player on each Carolina Panthers NFC South rival in 2022
Marcus Mariota – QB (Atlanta Falcons)
Marcus Mariota somehow enhanced his stock simply by sitting on the sidelines over the last two seasons. Playing understudy to Derek Carr on the Las Vegas Raiders took him out of the firing line and it was almost as if people started forgetting about why he was forced into this situation to begin with.
The former No. 2 overall selection failed to reach the necessary targets throughout his stint under center with the Tennessee Titans. Mariota had his moments, but there was far more bad than good and he was swiftly moved on.
Whether Mariota can reignite his career on the Atlanta Falcons is debatable. Many believe he will, but the Carolina Panthers can relax safe in the knowledge that this is a substantial downgrade on Matt Ryan, who was traded to the Indianapolis Colts.