Re-evaluating the Carolina Panthers’ best quarterback draft options after NFL combine
.JPG "Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)")
The top of the 2022 NFL Draft lacks clarity.
Most years, a quarterback or two are crowned as best in class or an athletic freak like Myles Garrett stands out among his peers. But that is not the case this offseason.
One NFL scout who spoke to The Observer said there isn’t consensus from picks Nos. 1-15. After that, the skill gap between player No. 15 and 64 is slim.
That’s less than ideal for Carolina. The Panthers hold the No. 6 pick but do not select again until Round 4, pick No. 105. General manager Scott Fitterer could trade down and recoup some draft capital. That would require a team to move up for either a defensive stud, an offensive tackle or quarterback.
Carolina needs offensive line help and a new quarterback. At the combine, Fitterer described the Panthers’ quarterback job as “open.”
“We need stability at the quarterback position, whether that is Sam (Darnold) or someone else, someone needs to take hold of that position and hold that,” Fitterer said. “Right now, it’s open.”
The Panthers are exploring the veteran market while evaluating their draft options. Quarterback is the most influential position in professional sports. Filling the position with a franchise-changing winner is as important as it is challenging. Until Fitterer and coach Matt Rhule find their guy things will not change in Carolina.
Here is an updated look at the top five quarterbacks after interviews and position workouts from the combine.
1. Kenny Pickett, Pitt
Biggest combine takeaway: Don’t worry about his hand size.
Since Pickett skipped hand measurements at the Senior Bowl, NFL executives and fans waited patiently for his combine numbers. The Pitt product ran well. His 40-yard dash time of 4.73 seconds impressed. His tape shows he’s capable of making off-script plays. Pitt also featured him as a runner in short-yardage situations.
Pickett stands about 6-foot-3 and weighs 217 pounds. All of his measurements scream NFL quarterback except for his hand size. His 8.5-inch hands are considered small by pro football standards. The last quarterback with 8.5-inch hands to have NFL success was Mike Vick. But that should not concern NFL teams.
“That is not going to matter,” an NFL coach told The Observer. “If anything, a slightly larger pro ball may help him control his throws. That isn’t going to make sense but I know most quarterbacks prefer the pro ball regardless of hand size ... It’s funny how big of a deal this will be when it isn’t.”
A former ACC coach told The Observer he remembers meeting Pickett before he started wearing two gloves. He threw a great ball then, too. He only wears them now for comfort.
“Kenny showed what he can do this past season,” the former ACC coach said. “He can ball. His throws were on the money (in Indianapolis). He’s the most pro-ready quarterback.”
He processes quicker than any quarterback in his class. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said Pickett could have a Mac Jones-like rookie season. During his senior season at Pittsburgh, Pickett demonstrated complete control of the Panthers’ offense. His passing touchdowns ballooned from 13 to 42 from his junior to senior year. Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy advised Pickett to stay at Pitt following his junior season. That sound advice — combined with his Heisman finalist season — catapulted Pickett from a projected sixth- or seventh-round selection in 2021 to possibly the first quarterback selected in 2022.
The Panthers met with Pickett while in Indianapolis. Pickett said it was nice seeing Panthers coach Matt Rhule again. Carolina met with Pickett at the Senior Bowl but Rhule was not there.
Pickett entered the combine as QB 1 and he still is. His pro day is scheduled for March 23
2. Malik Willis, Liberty
Biggest combine takeaway: Highest ceiling but not ready.
“That place went nuts when (Malik) let that ball fly,” an NFL scout told The Observer. “He’s by far the most athletic quarterback here and his arm is nuts.”
Willis took over the on-field workouts and he did so without running the 40-yard dash, which he is set to do at his pro day.
Willis believes in his arm strength. Notice how he takes his time on his five-step drop back. He’s in no rush to climb the pocket. Instead, he sits on his back foot and lets it rip.
In a fun moment, combine coaches paired Willis with Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave, who ran a 4.29 40-yard dash. On their lone vertical attempt, Willis overthrew the fastest prospect in Indianapolis.
Workouts aside, there was a collective agreement regarding an ideal situation for Willis. He is not ready to start Week 1, unlike Pickett, who comes from a pro-style offense. Willis would benefit from sitting behind a veteran for a season.
That likely isn’t an option in Carolina.
Willis routinely downplays concerns about playing at a school the size of Liberty. In two seasons after transferring from Auburn, he threw for 5,107 yards with 47 TDs and 18 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,822 yards and 27 TDs.
3. Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
Biggest combine takeaway: He is being overlooked.
Pickett and Willis have separated themselves as the top two quarterbacks in the class, but one scout said Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder is being overlooked.
Ridder has 43 college wins, third all-time behind college legends Colt McCoy and Kellen Moore. Ridder ran an attention-grabbing 4.5-second 40-yard dash, which is faster than Patrick Mahomes, Derek Carr and Russell Wilson.
“He’s blowing teams away in meetings,” one scout told The Observer. “He did at the Senior Bowl, too. (Ridder) has all the intangibles you want, especially at quarterback. I wish he made more wow throws but he hasn’t hurt himself on the field ... People are forgetting he’s the only quarterback here to play in the (final four).”
He had an excellent season in leading the Bearcats to the College Football Playoffs. He threw for 3,384 yards, 30 touchdowns and only eight interceptions while adding six rushing touchdowns.
Ridder helped himself at the combine. If the Panthers trade back, he is a name to watch.
4. Sam Howell, UNC
Biggest combine takeaway: He has the best deep arm.
Scouts and executives are all over the place on North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell. One scout told The Observer that he has the best deep ball in his class. Another scout compared him to Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.
“To me, he’s another Baker Mayfield,” an NFL scout told The Observer. “Which is tough for (Howell) after the year the Browns had.
“He’s tough and can let it fly but I see Baker 2.0 and that’s going to stick with him.”
Howell started 37 games at North Carolina. His passing numbers regressed this past season because he lost four of his primary targets to the 2021 NFL Draft. To offset those losses, Howell shouldered a bulk of the Tar Heels’ rushing responsibilities. He led the team in carries (183) and was second in rushing yards (828) and touchdowns (11).
Howell only threw at the combine and helped his stock as a passer. The ball screams off his hand. Howell is expected to run at his pro day March 30.
5. Matt Corral, Ole Miss
Biggest combine takeaway: He has yet to work out.
There is a lot of mystery surrounding Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral.
He did not work out at the combine; an ankle injury that held him out of the Senior Bowl last month isn’t ready to be played on yet. He’d expected to compete at his Pro Day on March 24.
Until then, he’s used his time with teams at the combine to showcase his football mind and leadership skills. Like the other quarterbacks in Indy, Corral believes he’s best in class. He’s got reason to think so. In 2021, he threw for 3,342 yards, rushed for 614 and totaled 31 TDs. He’s only 6-feet tall but his athleticism helps him create off-script plays and designed runs.
It may not be fair to prospects Carson Strong and Bailey Zappe to rank Corral ahead of them (Strong and Zappe both threw at the combine) but scouts remain intrigued by Corral, who will have the most anticipated pro day of any quarterback in this class.
This story was originally published March 8, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
