The Carolina Panthers quarterback situation has been a problem for the team for quite some time.
Sam Darnold was the guy everyone thought could answer this problem last season.
However, his failure in Carolina came about soon after starting off the season looking good.
Now the team has Baker Mayfield, the former Cleveland Browns QB, who also has issues of his own that he brings to Carolina.
But they also have Matt Corral, the Ole Miss rookie QB who’s ready to prove himself.
These quarterbacks are who the head coach must rely on during the 2022 season.
However, his time is still doomed in Carolina because of this QB situation.
The Island Of Misfit Quarterbacks
All three quarterbacks are competing for the starting job.
However, most people aren’t looking Corral’s direction in the quarterback competition.
They are focusing on Darnold and Mayfield, two QBs that could be considered misfits in their own way.
Darnold is the misfit QB that the New York Jets were so eager to toss away.
Mayfield’s background of being a misfit comes from him being immature in Cleveland.
.@Chris_Broussard on the report that the Browns viewed Baker Mayfield as 'childish & immature'
"It explains why the Browns didn't bring Baker back. Baker threw out an olive branch. Rightly or wrongly the Browns feel like he's immature. But it looks bad coming from the Browns." pic.twitter.com/x0x0Xtg3hW
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) July 11, 2022
Corral doesn’t come in as a misfit like Darnold and Mayfield.
They are misfits for not being wanted or having a childish and immature attitude.
However, Corral’s being a misfit comes from his desire to shake the apple cart in Carolina to become the starting QB.
Don’t tell Panthers rookie QB Matt Corral that he’s not part of the competition for the starting job this year. pic.twitter.com/D7sf46pqu0
— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) July 26, 2022
With Mayfield coming to Carolina to save Rhule’s job, Corral putting on a stellar performance could actually hurt Rhule.
But how can an excellent quarterback hurt a head coach needing wins in 2022?
Corral Performing Well Makes Mayfield Trade Look Bad
While the Panthers didn’t give up much to get Mayfield, Corral can still make the trade look bad.
The Panthers gave the Browns a conditional 2024 draft pick in for Mayfield, with it being a fourth or fifth, depending on the number of snaps he gets.
However, even giving a fifth-round pick for Mayfield looks bad if he tanks and Corral shines in Carolina.
It means that Rhule is putting faith in the wrong quarterback for 2022.
It could also mean the end of his coaching career with Carolina as well.
While it could be worse if Rhule makes a switch to Corral late in the season, him winning the QB job at the start makes the Mayfield trade look bad.
These poor decisions can lead to the end of the road for Rhule in Carolina.
Time Is Ticking For Rhule
After two seasons of only five wins, the seat for the Panthers’ head coach is as hot as it gets.
His failures with the team have put him in this position.
However, injuries to star players haven’t helped the situation in Carolina.
These things, along with a potential bust with the Baker trade, all point toward a change at head coach soon in Carolina.
With the NFC South division having two of the toughest NFL teams in the Saints and Buccaneers, the Panthers won’t have an easy season in 2022.
The army of quarterbacks in Carolina won’t be enough to save Matt Rhule in 2022.
NEXT: Matt Corral Could Shock The World In Carolina
David Zeoli says
I am a lifelong Cowboy fan and Michigander as well. Sorry MW, but I am going to have to kick it back at you here. First, I couldn’t care less about these QB’s personally. But the collective characterization of Baker Mayfield has been nothing short of malpractice by the “suggestible” media. Once a wave begins in sports media today, the journalists start surfing the wave – it is all they seem to know. Writing against the grain is almost impossible to find – an alarming trend.
Objectively – Baker has been up and down at times and his stats are not great. However, he has been given the 8th grade rejects version of a receiving corps to work with (Just watch how great Jarvis Landry is in 2022). For crying out loud – Landry, DPJ, Swartz and Higgins? Compare that to other teams in the league in 2021 – it’s woeful. But it’s all BM’s fault . Then you have essentially two-top 10 RB’s in the NFL in the same backfield – with 4th most run heavy offense in 2020 and 6th most run heavy in 2021. His stats aren’t great? – They never will or would be in this system. But, none of that matters – there is a pile to pile onto, right?
All Baker Mayfield did was put the worst franchise in the history of the NFL on his back- take them to the playoffs and beat a rival on the road- then took the Chiefs to the brink. He gave Cleveland something to be proud of – how easy those fans forget. I digress. So, after erasing an embarrassing legacy, he starts the season in KC where he almost knocks off the champs on the road – soon after – he gets hurt- but plays hurt (remember when all the pundits in the sports media told us that he could not possibly play with that injury?) So, he goes out there – beats his body to “you know what” for 6 games – and the Browns come up 1 game short of going back to the playoffs. Then they call him on the phone and say, “For your trouble Mr. Mayfield – how about this- go {blank] yourself”. (and of course – the sports media can’t wait to pile on this dumpster fire).
So, sorry MW, but “island of misfits” is a hack take about Baker Mayfield- but just keep on surfing. The story you might consider writing is the sad state of the “what have you done for me lately culture of the NFL and the incestuous media that enables it”. (See also: Tom Brady getting run out of NE – lol).
I wasn’t a Baker Mayfield fan- but I am now. Call me psychologically reactant – you wouldn’t be wrong – but I will be rooting against the “Cleveland Serial Abusers” and praying that Cleveland returns to the karma hell they deserve to be in. As for Mr. Mayfield, I hope that he takes the Panthers to the playoffs and lights up Charlotte. And – please Baker – give these hacks the Marshawn Lynch treatment. Go straight to social and talk for hours with us – but ignore the sports media as there is no upside to a dysfunctional relationship. Besides, we don’t need these “message middle-persons” any more.
– Gotta go now and buy a No. 6 Carolina Panthers jersey.
DZ