Five college quarterbacks the Carolina Panthers could draft to help rescue them
When the Panthers begin their preparation for the draft, one of their top priorities this offseason will be quarterback.
Sam Darnold has shown that he isn’t the future, and the Panthers’ best bet at finding their franchise quarterback may be through the draft.
The 2022 draft isn’t as top-heavy with quarterbacks as this year’s was. The Panthers missed their opportunity there when they passed on quarterbacks Justin Fields and Mac Jones.
The Panthers would pick 13th in the first round if the NFL draft were today. Here are some quarterback options in 2022:
Sam Howell (UNC)
Howell, a junior at North Carolina, was at one point considered by some draft experts as a top-10 pick. After starting the season ranked in the AP Top 25, the Tar Heels (5-4) have struggled.
Howell, who is 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, has had a lot of success dating back to his freshman season when he threw for 38 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He had similar success as a sophomore throwing 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
But he’s gone through some growing pains as a junior. The Tar Heels lost four of their top offensive weapons to the NFL draft, and it has had a direct effect on his production.
Through nine games this season, Howell has thrown 2,408 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and eight rushing touchdowns. But his draft stock has taken a tumble.
One draft expert for CBS Sports, Chris Trapasso, had him going No. 30 overall, while CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson and Josh Edwards have him dropping out of the first round.
The Panthers don’t have a second-round pick this year.
Kenny Pickett (Pitt)
After being a relative average quarterback during his first three years at Pitt — he never threw for more than 13 touchdowns — Pickett is having a breakout year in 2021.
The 6-3, 220-pound senior, has thrown for 3,171 yards, 29 touchdowns and only three interceptions in nine games this season. His 29 touchdown passes rank third in the country. He’s a primary reason Pitt is 7-2 and is primed to win the ACC’s Coastal Division.
Pickett will likely be invited to the senior bowl so teams will have multiple opportunities to see him up close.
Trapasso has him going 18th overall, while Edwards has him going 22nd overall.
Matt Corral (Ole Miss)
All three of the CBS draft experts have Corral, a junior quarterback at Ole Miss, in the top 10 of their mock drafts and the top quarterback in this class.
Multiple reports indicated that the Panthers were among teams who had representation at the Ole-Miss Liberty game last Saturday, where Corral faced off against Malik Willis (who is next on this list).
Ole Miss won 27-24 and Corral finished with 324 yards passing and a touchdown. For the season, the 6-foot, 200-pound quarterback has 16 touchdowns and only two interceptions in nine games this season. He also has 10 rushing touchdowns and 528 yards on the ground.
Malik Willis (Liberty)
Willis, a 6-1, 215-pound quarterback, has been a hot name for the past two seasons. He has thrown for 2,159 yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions in nine games in 2021.
In the loss to Ole Miss, however, he was sacked nine times and threw three interceptions and no touchdowns. He did run for 71 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown.
Willis is a dual-threat quarterback who formerly played at Auburn before transferring to Liberty after the 2018 season. Along with his passing numbers, he has 755 yards on the ground and 10 rushing touchdowns this season.
Wilson, of CBS Sports, projects him to go 30th overall, while Trapasso and Edwards have him going seventh and ninth overall, respectively.
Carson Strong (Nevada)
Strong, a 6-4, 215 pounds, has put up consistent numbers the past two years at Nevada. He has ideal size for the position and has been on the NFL draft radar since 2019.
He is top 10 in the country in both passing yards and touchdown passes. He has thrown for 3,197 yards 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions through nine games this year. He’s also completing 70% of his passes.
Wilson and Trapasso have Strong going 11th overall in the 2022 NFL draft. However, Edwards doesn’t have him in the first round.
