The Carolina Panthers are expected to use their newly acquired first-overall pick on a quarterback, meaning their young signal-callers could be available via trade. According to NFL Network’s Mike Giardi (on Twitter), the Panthers would consider moving Matt Corral in a trade.
The Ole Miss product was selected in the third round of the 2022 draft, with the Panthers intending to bring him along slowly while hoping that one of their veterans could provide at least a season-plus of production. Neither Sam Darnold nor Baker Mayfield ended up working out for the organization, and the Panthers also made it clear that P.J. Walker wasn’t in their plans.
Even with the inconsistent QB depth chart, the Panthers were unable to get a look at their rookie, as Corral suffered a preseason Lisfranc injury that knocked him out for the season. The team could have repeated their plan in 2023 by pairing the young QB with one or two veterans, but the organization instead decided to go all-in with the first-overall pick. While it remains to be seen who will ultimately be selected, it’s clear that the Panthers will hand that unknown rookie QB the keys to the offense.
Considering Corral’s college resume, a team would surely make a run at the QB. He earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2021 after finishing with 20 touchdowns vs. five interceptions while adding another 11 touchdowns on the ground. Per Giardi, the cost wouldn’t be high to acquire the QB, and it’s unlikely the Panthers will be able to recoup their third-round investment.
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