5 realistic quarterback options for the Carolina Panthers in 2023
By Dean Jones
Matt Corral – Carolina Panthers QB
The forgotten man in the Carolina Panthers’ quarterback conundrum is Matt Corral. After an unfortunate foot injury suffered during the preseason, those in power within the organization have no clue whether or not their 2022 third-round selection can become a productive NFL starter.
He didn’t show much of anything in limited reps in warmup games. But it’s also worth remembering that Corral was playing with third and fourth-stringers across the board after the Panthers secured the services of Baker Mayfield via trade from the Cleveland Browns.
Corral is the only signal-caller under contract in 2023 right now. That is likely to change before OTAs and training camp roll around, but where the former Ole Miss standout will find himself in the pecking order is a question nobody knows the answer to.
Some fans want Corral to get his shot with someone like Sam Darnold backing him up. If it doesn’t work out, then the Panthers can draft one of many exceptional prospects set to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.
The problem for Corral is a new coaching staff, who have no emotional attachment and weren’t around when the Panthers traded up to land him at No. 94 overall. Waiting around another year for a college quarterback is tiresome, so now could be the time to strike.
Should Corral win the job outright, then fair enough. But at the end of the day, he’s too much of an unknown to just make him the No. 1 option without proving himself first.