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The 2022 NFL Draft is over and the top prospects have found new homes at the pro level. Overall, it was a weak draft for the quarterback position, as just one went in the first round.
The Panthers were a team that many thought could take a QB in the first round, but the team ultimately didn't. They didn't take one in the second round either.
Did the Panthers draft a QB in the third round? Yes. Will that QB, Matt Corral, challenge for the starting job, though?
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Did The Panthers Draft a QB?
With the 94th pick in the NFL Draft, the Panthers selected Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral:
There had been a time when Corral was discussed as a potential first-round pick, but as the draft process went on, the league got universally colder and colder on this QB class, with only Kenny Pickett going in Round 1.
Corral is an athletic QB, which fits the mold of what you think about when you think about Panthers quarterbacks. His ability to make plays with his legs made him arguably the most interesting QB prospect in this class from a "can he turn those athletic traits into NFL production" standpoint.
The problem with Corral is that he's undersized and, like Cam Newton, really likes to absorb contact, except Newton had the frame to handle that. He's got a nice arm and can make a ton of plays, but he also forces things too much. It's hard to trust that Corral will make the right reads against NFL-level defenses.
Who is Starting Quarterback for Carolina?
If Corral had been taken in the first round, I think you could argue that the Panthers were high enough on him to start him in Week 1.
But they didn't. Using a third on Corral shows that the Panthers like him, but they likely view him as a project. That's a fair viewpoint since he is a project.
The Panthers look set to enter 2022 with Sam Darnold as their starting quarterback.
Darnold started 11 games last year, completing 59.9% of his passes for 2,527 yards, nine touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
While it's become clear that Darnold won't live up to his draft position, he did provide some decent weeks early in the season. Barring a surprise like a Baker Mayfield trade or Corral lighting the world on fire in camp, Darnold will be the bridge QB and should start for at least the first month or so of the season.
Does Matt Corral Have Fantasy Value?
Not really. I think it's reasonable to think he might play later in the season, but in redraft leagues, there's zero reason to draft Corral, even in a two-QB league. The fact that he's not guaranteed to start and that he's got a lot to figure out about playing quarterback at a high level make him a wasted roster spot. You also don't want to roster Sam Darnold in fantasy either.
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