4 burning questions for Carolina Panthers offense after 2022 camp
By Noah Bryce
Who will the Carolina Panthers choose as QB1?
Getting the elephant out of the room early here. The biggest thing on everyone’s mind is which quarterback will be chosen to lead the Carolina Panthers in 2022.
While, at least externally, the quarterback battle between incumbent starter Sam Darnold and newcomer Baker Mayfield is wide open, the Panthers need to get this decision right or the team risks setting itself back once again in an NFC South that is theirs for the taking once Tom Brady retires.
Having the No. 1 and No. 3 overall picks from one draft on your team is a true rarity in the NFL. It’s even rarer for them to be quarterbacks squarely within what should be the beginning of the primes.
Neither quarterback has had a particularly stellar recent record with both Darnold and Mayfield having down years in 2021. But both players have the raw talent and leadership ability to make it as NFL starters.
It’s just a matter of which one can tap into that when things get real and the hits start coming.
The biggest indicator of who is leading this battle will be whoever starts with the 1st team offense this preseason.
Once the games get real there is no room for tryouts and building chemistry becomes the top priority. So whoever gets that chance is who the Panthers have the most confidence in going forward.
Be sure to keep an eye on who that is because that decision will shape the franchise for years to come.