4 crucial observations from Sam Darnold in Panthers 2022 training camp

Carolina Panthers have an obvious Sam Darnold dilemma

If the quarterback decision goes against Sam Darnold, the Carolina Panthers have quite the conundrum on their hands. Both Matt Rhule and general manager Scott Fitterer stated that taking three quarterbacks onto their roster is a likely scenario, but that could all change if another team feels like acquiring last year’s marquee arrival before the campaign.

Darnold has enough bad tape to suggest otherwise. And teams haven’t exactly been banging down the door to trade for someone with $18.85 million fully guaranteed coming his way in 2022.

Keeping Darnold as the primary backup behind Baker Mayfield if he doesn’t win the job is potentially problematic. It might also hinder the growth of rookie Matt Corral, whose reps were extremely limited behind the top-two during camp.

Picking up Darnold’s fifth-year option before participating in a single practice was a costly error by the Panthers. Either they’ll eat a large chunk via trade or have a very expensive backup on their hands if those in power decide Mayfield is the right guy to lead this team short-term.

Things look bleak for Darnold. There’s no getting away from that.

But Darnold can look back at his production and especially his conduct in difficult circumstances at Wofford College with a significant amount of pride.