NFC South QB power rankings: Where does Baker Mayfield fit?

Matt Corral

Even though Matt Corral has yet to play an NFL down, the upside compared to Sam Darnold puts him higher on this list. The Carolina Panthers made their move for the Ole Miss product when he started falling down the pecking order, eventually trading with the New England Patriots to bring him on board at No. 94 overall in the draft.

Corral’s exceptional release, arm strength, and ability to make plays out of nothing make him an intriguing prospect to develop. Carolina’s coaching staff feels like he can become the face of the franchise over time, but his processing and decision-making need some work before the Panthers can feel confident about throwing him in at the deep end.

As stated previously, Corral wasn’t expected to start right away and it was unfair to put that on the signal-caller given how much is on the line for Matt Rhule in 2022. That’s why trading for Baker Mayfield might be a good thing for his development in the long run.

Mayfield might be a lot of things, but his mindset is something that should mesh well with Corral. Darnold is the elephant in the room, obviously, so it will be interesting to see how this dynamic unfolds in training camp.

Trading for Mayfield is not a knock on how the Panthers perceive Corral in the slightest. It just gives them a better chance of making strides this season.