4 major elements that held the Carolina Panthers back in 2022
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers had a revolving door at QB
While the head coach is the centerpiece, production on the field all starts with the quarterback. This is a complex riddle the Carolina Panthers didn’t solve well enough in 2022.
Trading for Baker Mayfield was doomed to fail from the outset. Time was of the essence in training camp, but Matt Rhule moved forward with a quarterback competition regardless and this prevented the signal-caller from developing true chemistry with his primary playmakers.
Matt Corral spent the season on injured/reserve, P.J. Walker flashed when in the lineup, and Sam Darnold showed signs of life before fading when the lights were brightest. This points to the revolving door at football’s most crucial position being the No. 1 element that held Carolina back during the campaign.
Darnold was the best performer of all Carolina’s quarterbacks by a considerable margin. Whether that’s enough for the one-time USC star to get another deal is a completely different question.
Outside of the new head coach, finding a franchise player under center is the most important decision awaiting the Panthers this offseason. After so many flawed moves under Rhule – who had complete roster control no matter what he says – it’s a call those in power cannot afford to get wrong.