2022 NFL Draft: 5 teams that have to select a quarterback next year
By Kyle Edmond
Carolina Panthers
Matt Rhule is set to embark on his second NFL season and he’s yet to have a true No. 1 quarterback under center. Instead, the Carolina Panthers have gone the route of taking on players with something to prove. Teddy Bridgewater played the role well last year and the team will now expect similar results from Sam Darnold.
The problem with that plan is that Darnold has yet to live up to his lofty expectations. It’s not entirely his fault, playing for the Jets under Adam Gase didn’t help him. However, the stats still aren’t great. He threw more interceptions than touchdowns in 2020 and he only has six more touchdowns than interceptions over his entire career.
A change of scenery could do wonders for Darnold, we’ll have to see, but he still doesn’t seem like the franchise quarterback that the Panthers need. Instead, he’s more of a band-aid fix to hold the team over for as long as they can.
This past year the Carolina Panthers were in a decent spot to either take a quarterback or move up for one. Instead, they made the move for Darnold. Should they end up back in a similar situation in 2022, they might take a different route.
Perhaps Darnold turns his career around and is the answer in Carolina. If not, then the team will need to look to the 2022 NFL Draft for their next choice.