Re-grading the Carolina Panthers 2022 NFL Draft class after Year No. 1
By Dean Jones
Matt Corral – Carolina Panthers QB
- No. 94 overall selection | Ole Miss Rebels
It’s clear the Carolina Panthers were going to bolster their quarterback options last spring. Sam Darnold’s first campaign under center following his trade from the New York Jets was a complete disaster, so something had to be done.
Before the Panthers swung for the fences with Baker Mayfield, the team traded up to No. 94 overall for Matt Corral, who plunged out of first-round contention after an evaluation process littered with question marks.
This was seen as a risk worth taking by Carolina’s decision-makers. But the signal-caller’s initial development was hindered in training camp as Matt Rhule went forward with a battle between Darnold and Mayfield for the No. 1 job.
Corral’s limited reps were with third and fourth stringers. Something that came to a head in the preseason when the Ole Miss product suffered a serious Lisfranc injury that ruled him out for the entire campaign.
Draft Grade: Incomplete
The Panthers haven’t got the first clue about what Corral is or could be. With a new regime coming into the fold and the promise of another high-end quarterback from the college ranks, the player faces an uphill battle for a starting position in 2023.